s 



The First Aid 



To the Shipping of Fruits, 

Vegetables and Poultry to 

Market for Profit 



Price, One Dollar 





Copyright )J^. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE FIRST AID 

TO 

SHIPPING FRUITS, VEGETABLES 

BUTTER. EGGS AND GAME 

FOR PROFIT 

TO MARKET 



A COMPLETE TREATISE ON HOW TO GATHER. PREPARE 

PACK AND SHIP FRUITS. VEGETABLES, AND POULTRY 

TO THE MARKETS BY EXPRESS OR CARLOTS 



By 
THEODORE G. THOMAS 

Editor Southern Shipper 
Author and Publisher 




^ 



HOUSTON, TEXAS 

Copyright 1910 






Ip 



©CI.A275419 



\ 

\ 
\ 



INTRODUCTORY 



Everyone is in business for profit, and to insure profit we 
must first learn to avoid loss. 

The shipping of perishable products to the markets in ev- 
V ery instance means either profit or loss. Good market con- 
ditions, progressive Commission Merchants, attractive se- 
lection and packing invariably leads to profit to all concerned, 
the same as gluts in markets, unreliable Commission Mer- 
chants, poor selection and packing invariable results in loss, 
some of these unfavorable conditions we cannot always 
avoid, in the height of the season; markets will overstock, 
delays in route occur, but it must be understood that the 
poorer grades in a overstocked market always suffer the 
most. Well packed produce enlists the co-operation of the 
Merchants and still finds favor with the considerate buyer. 

Every reputable Commission Merchant, who endeavors 
to maintain his reputation regrets to report losses to his 
shippers, even if it is the shipper's fault, he knows the blame 
will fall most heavily on him, and to minimize or avoid these 
losses is the object of this book, THE FIRST AID TO 
SHIPPING, written by the Author and presented free by 
yie Commission Merchants to his shippers. 

When a Commission man presents one of these books to 
his shipper, he does it for no other purpose than to take 
care of his shippers, induce them to ship better grades and 
packing, and receive better returns. For he knows the suc- 
cess of his business as a Commission Merchant depends al- 
most entirely on the success and profit his shippers received 
from his hands. 

The careful perusal of this book by the shipper will bring 
immediate results on the first shipment. It is instructive 
to any shipper and indispensable to the beginners and will 
be found an invaluable aid in shipping produce for profit. 

The Author 



CONTENTS 



Pagre 

1. Shipping Rules and Grades 11 

2. Packing Fruits and Vegetables for Market. ... 11 

3. Shipping to the Market 12 

4. Pack and Ship only the Best 14 

5. Different Boxes, Crates or Hampers to Use for 

Express or Carlot Shipments 16 

6. How to Ship by Express 21 

7. How to Ice Express Shipments Properly. ' . . 22 

8. Approximate Express Charges to Northern, 

Eastern and Western Markets 23 

9. Estimated Weights 25 

10. Estimated Weight as Applied to Interstate Mar- 

kets by the Express Companies 28 

11. How to Collect Overcharges from the Express 

Companies 29 

12. Ordinary Time Required for Express Shipments 

to Reach the Markets 29 

13. How to Ship by Freight in Carlots 31 

14. Ordinary Required Time for Carlots to Reach 

the Markets 32 

15. Approximate Freight Charges to Northern, 

Eastern and Western Markets in Carlots. ... 32 

16. How to Ice Cars of Fruits and Vegetables 

Properly 33 

17. How to Load Fruits and Vegetables into the 

Cars for Safety 34 

18. How Many Acres of Fruits or Vegetables Must 

be Planted to Secure Carlots Daily 35 

19. Refrigeration Charges to Northern, Eastern and 

Western Markets per Car 36 

20. How to Make and Construct Packages Properly 

for Express and Carlot Shipments 41 



Page 

21. Marking Shipments Plainly 41 

22. Carelessness of Shippers 42 

23. The Use of Mail, Telegraph and Telephone Ser- 

vice for Market Quotations and Shipping. . . 43 

24. How to Find Out the Reliability of Commis- 

sion Merchants in the Various Markets. . . 44 

25. F. O. B. Sales 46 

26. Advance on Consignments 46 

27. Joint Accounts 46 

28. Brokerage Rules and Technicalities 46 

29. Seeds Required to Produce Certain Number of 

Plants 47 

30. Number of Plants and Trees to the Acre. ... 47 

31. Standard Weights of Seeds 49 

32. Seeds Usually Sown upon the Acre 50 

33. Approximate Time for Certain Varieties of Seeds 

to Germinate 51 

34. Table Showing the Quantity of Garden Seeds 

Required to Plant a Given Space .51 

35. Approximate Time it Requires Vegetables to 

Mature Ready for Shipment from the Planting 
of the Seed 53 

36. What Month in the Year are Certain Vegetables 

in best Demand in the Northern Markets from 
the South 53 

37. Markets for Fall Vegetables 55 

38. Estimating Measures 55 

39. How to Weigh Without Scales 56 

40. Profits that May Reasonably be Expected from 

One Acre of Land in Fruits or Vegetables in the 
South 56 

41. Apples and Potatoes. To find Number of Bushels 

in Bin or Box 57 

42. Business Laws in Brief 58 



How to Select, Pack and Ship Fruits Properly 



Pag-e 
. 61 



Apples 


Grapes 


Pears 


Apricots 


Oranges 


Pecans 


Blackberries 


Peaches 


Persimmons 


Dewberries 


Plums 


Strawberries 


Figs 


Peanuts 


Walnuts 


V to Select, Pack and Ship Vegetables Properly 


Asparagus 


Corn (Sweet) 


Parsley 


Beans (String) 


Cucumbers 


Peas (English) 


Beets 


Egg Plants 


Peppers 


Cabbage 


Garlic 


Potatoes (Irish) 


Canteloupe 


Horseradish 


Potatoes (Sweet) 


Carrots 


Kohlrabi 


Radishes 


Cassava 


Lettuce 


Rhubarb 


Cauliflower 


Mushrooms 


Spinach 


Celery 


Okra 


Squash 


Collards 


Onions 


Tomatoes 


Turnips Watermelons 


IV to Select, Pac1< and Shin . 




Butter 


Turkeys 


Guinea Fowls 


Eggs 


Ducks 


Dressed Poultry 


Chickens 


Geese 




IV to Prepare, Pack and Ship 




Frogs 




Game 



71 



93 



97 



Good Cities to Which Garlot and Express Shipments 
May be Made From the Southwest 



98 



PART I . 

General Directions for Shipping 
Perishable Products to the Markets 



PART I. 

Shipping Rules and Grades 

Today's shipment means shipment before midnight, 
or on next train due to leave after order by telegraph 
or letter has been received. 

Immediate shipment allows twelve hours. 

Prompt shipment allows twenty-four hours. 

The date on bill of lading constitutes evidence for 
compliance of order. 

Shipments of potatoes fi-om the South shall be al- 
lowed a shrinkage of 8 per cent of the gross weight and 
cabbage 6 per cent. 

C'omplaints as to .weight, shortage of grades must be 
filed and shipper notified within thirty-six hours. 

Packing Fruits and Vegetables for Market 

No fruit or produce dealer or experienced shipper 
will hardly contradict our statement that the proper 
selection of fruits and vegetables and packing are by 
all odds the most important features of successful mar- 
ket gardening and profits in shipping products to mar- 
ket. The minutest detail about a crate or box gauges 
at once the selling price; the style of box, the bright 
appearance of the new wood, the neat and proper mark- 
ing, the careful and substantial nailing are all features 
which produce pleasant impressions in the eye of the 



12 THE FIRST AID 

buyer, because they denote a careful and cautious 
packer. 

The shippers of California could never have crossed 
the continent of nearly 3000 miles to market with any 
hope of profit if it were not for their scientific artistic 
packing. All means are exhausted to make every pack- 
age look as attractive as possible. Who has not admired 
and was tempted to buy by the inviting rows of pears, 
peaches, apricots, cherries and grapes as seen in our 
fruit stores in the exposed California fruit packages. 
They should convey a lesson to every observing ship- 
per. Then, again, very little, if any, deception is 
practiced by topping off the top with the best; the Cal- 
ifornia package will average good all the way to the bot- 
tom and this is most praiseworthy and commendable. 

Every shipper has the privilege to make his ship- 
ments look attractive by topping with nice fruit and 
truck, but when this is done for the purpose of decep- 
tion he deceives only himself. Every strange brand or 
mark is carefully examined to the very bottom by the 
buyer before purchase is made, and it is no advantage or 
benefit to even attempt to deceive the customer for 
your goods; even should you succeed for one time, the 
buyer will steer clear of your shipments the next time. 

Shipping to the Market 

It will be conceded by our readers that the shipping 
to market of perishable goods like fruits and vegetables 
must be done with promptness and intelligence; there- 
fore "How to Ship for Profit" becomes an important 

bject. To haul fruit and produce to the depot for 



su 



THE FIRST AID 13 

shipment without any advice of the condition of the 
market and to unknown commission merchants, to say 
the least, is a haphazard way of doing business and 
failure must naturally follow as often as success. A 
hit-or-miss proposition is hardly the right way to dis- 
pose of property and no experienced shipper will em- 
ploy such methods. He either ships on advice or orders 
and generally succeeds. A month or week before his 
crop is ready for shipment he will study market con- 
ditions, write to commission merchants and get ad- 
vice which is mostly useful and indispensable for suc- 
cess, read trade papers and find out just what competi- 
tion there is to face. Xo one will deny that selling the 
products for cash at the loading station is by far the 
safest proposition, l)ut this can not always be done. 
While fruit and produce dealers will always buy car- 
loads at loading stations, very few can be induced to 
buy small express lots with the high express rate, and 
therefore express lots and even car lots will have to be 
shipped on consignment in most instances. 

Tn consigning produce to commission merchants one 
lias three obstacles to contend with : first, delay en route 
by the transportation companies ; second, dishonest com- 
mission merchants; and third, overstocked markets. 
Fortunately for the shipper, there are safeguards at all 
times available to them that can be employed in all 
three instances. If delayed by the transportation com- 
panies for any unreasonable time, the shipper can col- 
lect damages to the amount of his loss ; for information 
about the reliability of any commission merchant the 
shipper can go to his local bank, any merchant at his 



14 THE FI RST A I D 

station, Dunn or Bradstreet mercantile agencies, or if 
lie is a subscriber to any regular trade paper he can 
get the information from the publisher — everyone will 
serve him. With the use of the telegraph the shipper 
can avoid overstocked markets by diverting cars to other 
more favorable markets, or he can hold his crop back 
a few days until conditions improve. It never pays to 
rush produce indiscriminately to market; it is cheaper 
to even dump the produce at home and save crates and 
boxes than to ship it to markets where there can not be 
any profits. It is only by constant, accurate and relia- 
ble information that shippers can expect success, and 
we advise great caution on all occasions in the shipping 
season. Read our other articles on this important sub- 
ject in this book. 

Pack and Ship Only the Best 

It is beyond any possible dispute, that with the high 
Ivxprcss Kates, Freight and Icing charges, the constant 
growth of the criticism of the markets, it can only pay 
in every instance for the shipper to ship only the best 

Ship less and ship it good, even if necessary throw 
one half of your crop away. 

For the convenience of our readers let us illustrate 
this fact with a tomato shipment as follows: 

Suppose you liad enough tomatoes, good, l)ad and in- 
different to fill iuii 4 -basket crates wilh this mixed lot 
of good and bad. \o\\ ship the ten crates with the fol- 
lowing results : 



THE F I RST AI D 15 

ACCOUNT SALiE: 

10 crates at 60€ $6.00 

Commiss^'on, 10 per cent 60 

$5.40 
Express charges, 40c per crate $4.00 

Net proceeds $1.40 

Supposing now you assorted the tomatoes care- 
fully, threw away all the small, wormy and inferior 
ones and shipped only six crates. 

ACCOUNT SALE: 

6 crates tomatoes at $1.(T0 $0.00 

Commission, 10 per cent 60 

$5.40 
Express, 40c per crate 2.40 

Net proceeds $3.00 

Any commission merchant will verify our statement 
tliat if ill-assorted tomatoes will sell for 60 cents per 
crate, good stock assorted would sell for $1.00 per crate. 

Xow look at the difference in the net proceeds in 
the amount of sales. One account shows 11 cents net 
per crate, the other 50 cents net per crate, but this is not 
all. You have saved the price of your four empty crates, 
nails, labor and hauling, amounting to 15 cents per 
crate. Vou have the refuse to can or feed to your stock. 
^'()U have also creatt'd a market for your goods and 
established a good rnputation as a good shipper. 

Xo^v what is true of tomatoes is true of all other fruit 
and truck. It pays to ship less and only the good. 

Figure it out for yourself. e 



16 THE F I RST AID 

Different Boxes, Crates or Hampers to Use for 

Express and Carlot Shipments of 

Fruit and Vegetables 

In giving explicit description of different packages 
to use in express or freight shipments of fruit and vege- 
tables, it must be born in mind, that in many states 
and localities, quite a difference exists in the boxes and 
crates used locally. 

For instance on the Atlantic coast from Florida to 
Virginia and as far as Louisiana, the hamper is used 
very extensively, and very few hampers if any are used 
in Texas or the Southwest. 

Tomatoes in the Southwestern States, are usually 
shipned in 6-basket crates, while in the Southwest and 
Texas, the 4-basket crate is invariably used for toma- 
toes, and shippers must to a certain extent conform 
somewhat with the usages prevailing in their respec- 
tive localities, as it might even be impossible to obtain 
just the crates described in this article. 

Tt has been argued and with good reasons, that some 
standard crates and measures should be adopted by all 
Southern growers, and which no doubt, would be of 
great convenience to the transportation companies, pro- 
duce trade and shippers. 

Fruits 

Apples are packed either in standard apple barrels or 
boxes containing about one bushel. It has been demon- 
strated that it is more convenient to pack apples in boxes 
than barrels; the boxes are more convenient to handle 
and stack closer in the cars and storage, and are also pre- 



THE FIRST AID 17 

f erred by the retail trade. There is no question but that 
boxes in time will take the ])h\ce of barrels for packing 
apples. 

Pears — Pears are preferable packed in one-bushel 
boxes except the harder cooking varieties, which may 
be safely packed in barrels. Hampers also make a neat 
package for pears. 

Peaches — Peaches, except the California, which are 
packed in flat l)oxes containing about one-half bushel, 
are best packed from the Southern States for Northern 
markets in either six-basket or four-basket crates. 

Apricots — Apricots should also be packed in either 
four or six-basket crates. 

Plums and Persinimons may be safely packed and 
transported to market in strawberry crates containing 24 
quart boxes, or one-tliird bushel boxes; four-basket 
crates may also be used for plums or persimmons to good 
advantage; larger packages are undesirable for plums 

Oranges — Oranges and grapefruit are invariably 
packed in standard orange crates. 

Figs — Pipe figs for raw consumption carry best in 
strawl)erry crates containing 24 quart boxes; four-bas- 
ki't crates can also be used. 

drapes — (Jra])es arc usually packed in (he regular 
gra])e baskets, (.rapes -Asm.) show up well in the four-bas- 
ket crates, and tliis r ;i. very desirahle [)ackage for 
grapes. 

Strairherries — Strawberries are packed in either 
crates ccmtaining 24 (piarts or in crates containing 24 
pints; either makes an attractive package, but quarts 
are more generally user* 



18 THE FIRST A ID 

Dewherries and BlacH ernes— For these berries, see 
strawberries. 

Pecans — Pecans are shipped in carlots or less in 100- 
poiind sacks; barrels can also be used. 

Walnuts — In sacks, like pecans. 

Vegetables 

Asparagus — Boxes holding one dozen bunches by ex- 
press ; in carloads bushel boxes may be used. 

Siring BeanS' — By express, one-third bushel boxes and 
one-half bushel baskets; carloads, one-third bushel 
boxes, bushel crates or hampers may be used. 

Cahhage — By express or carloads, standard open 
crates, 20x20x28 inches. 

Celery — By express or carloads, bushel boxes holding 
3 dozen bunches, each bunch containing 12 plants of 
celery. 

Egg Plant — By express, bushel crates or hampers; 
by carloads either barrels or hampers. 

Melons, CantaJoupes—By express, standard crates, 
12x21, holding 15 melons; carloads the same; pony 
crates or Climax baskets are sometimes used, holding 
each eighteen melons, by express with good results. 

Mel 0)1.9 — Watermelons can only be shipped in car 
lots with any degree of success and profit. 

Watermelons should be loaded in ventilated cars. 
Clean stock cars are as good as any. Xever load in a 
dirty car. Place about ten inches of straw, hay or pine 
shavings on the bottom of car. Xow place every melon 
carefully and snugly in its place, commencing at the 
end of the car and finishing at the doors. Allow no one 



THE FIRST A ID 19 

to walk over the iiu'loiis. Load the car al)Oiit one-half 
or less full in lieight. When loading, carefully exam- 
ine every melon for soft places. Throw out every one 
that shows any defect. It is hetter to throw the melon 
away at loading than to throw it away at the receiving 
point, after paying freight charges on the melon. 

Ohm — Okra is best shipped by express, in one-third 
bushel boxes or one-half bushel baskets ; never ship okra 
in sacks. 

Parsley — Ship parsley only in hampers, bushel boxes 
or barrels, well iced with cracked ice throughout the 
barrels in layers. 

Peas — For best results ship English peas in one-third 
bushel boxes, hampers, or one-half bnshel boxes. Peas 
are very apt to heat and should not be shipped in barrels 
or large packages. 

Potatoes — Irish potatoes should invariably be ship- 
ped in car lots, in ne)v standard sacks holding about 
100 pounds each, never in old or dilapidated sacks. In 
the first part of the season Irish potatoes may be ship- 
ped in one-third bushel boxes by express with profit; 
in carlots, ventilated l)arrels may also be used. 

Spinach — Spinach can be shipped in bushel boxes or 
hampers in carlots and in bushel boxes and barrels, well 
iced with cracked ice, l)y express. 

Tomatoes — The standard crates for tomatoes in car- 
lots or express are either the six-basket or four-basket 
crate. 

i?ee^6'— Beets tied in bunches may be shipped in ham- 
pers or bushel boxes without ice, or barrels with cracked 
ice, by express. Beets shipped in carlots must be ship- 



20 THE FIRST AID 

peel in refrigerator cars, well iced, as they are very apt 
to heat. 

Cauliflower — Cauliflower should be shipped in bushel 
boxes or hampers without ice, or barrels well iced, by 
express. 

Cucumhers — In the first part of the season cucumbers 
may be shipped by express in one-third bushel boxes; 
later on when they become more plentiful, in bushel 
boxes, ham])ers or barrels; no icing is required by ex- 
press shipments. In carlots, cucuml)ers may be shipped 
in barrels or husbel boxes in a well iced refrigerator car. 

Corn — Sweet corn is very apt to heat in transit, and 
must be shipped in small packages like the hamper or 
bushel boxes ; in barrels by express. Green corn uuist be 
well iced with cracked ice. 

Garlic — AVhen garlic is thoroughly dry and cured it 
may be shipped by freight or express in l)arrels or bushel 
boxes. 

Lettuce — Lettuce by express should be shipped in 
hampers or bushel crates without ice. In barrels it must 
be well iced. In carlots lettuce can only be shipped in 
well iced refrigerator cars. 

Mustard — Mustard by express should be shipped in 
barrels well iced. 

Onions — The Bermuda onions grown in tlie South are 
shipped with best success in the Cummer folding crate 
holding about cme bushel or fifty pounds. It is a risky 
business to ship any oni(ms from the South in sacks 
and we can not advise sacks for shi])ments; crates Or 
even barrels give better results. 

Peppers — Green peppers should be shipped in one- 



THE FIRST A ID 21 

third bushel boxes only by express; dry peppers 
thoroughly seasoned and cured may be shipped in sacks 
by express. 

Potatoes — Sweet potatoes should always be shipped in 
barrels or sacks either by express or carlots. 

i?(^/^//>//c',s-^R a dishes are a difficult crop to ship as the 
tops are very apt to heat and spoil the sale of the 
radishes. Radishes may be shipped in small packages 
like one-third bushel boxes or one-half bushel baskets 
by express; when shipped in hampers or barrels they 
must be well iced Avith cracked ice put in layers in the 
barrels or hampers. In carlots radishes are usually ship- 
ped either in bushel boxes or barrels in refrigerator 
cars, well iced and re-iced in transit. 

Tutnijts — Turnips with the tops should only be ship- 
ped in barrels l»y express, well iced. 

How to, Ship by Express 

In the first ])lace, read our instruction on different 
crates or boxes to l)e used for express shipments. To use 
crates of doubtful capacity is mystifying to the pur- 
chaser and express agents. It pays to use only standard 
crates. Next, read our article on packing. Any fruit 
or truck that is not the very best of selected and packed 
cannot stand the express charges, especially to interstate 
points. 

Xext, ask your express agent for an express book to 
keep a perfect record of every shipment you make. 
Several weeks before your crop is ready to ship, read 
maiket reports, read the Southern Shipper or any other 
paper that will give you information where to ship, and 



22 THE F I RST A ID 

to whom to ship. You cannot possible succeed unless 
you supply yourself with needed information. Write 
to commission merchants in various markets, state to 
them what you have and when you will be ready to 
ship. Ask them to keep you informed on their markets 
by mail or telegraph. To ship blind means loss. Mark 
your l)oxes plain with your name and place and for 
whom the shipment is intended. It is a good plan to 
mark both ends; it saves much useless handling and 
turning over by express employes. 

Large cities like St. Louis, Chicago, etc., are sup- 
plied with most fruits and vegetables in carload lots, 
which can be sold much cheaper. It is perfectly useless 
to make express shipments to compete with carlots, as 
express charges eat up all the profits. Hunt small mar- 
kets. They are the most profitable for express ship- 
ments. 

To Ice Express Shipments Properly 

The icing of express shipments must be done in the 
packages with cracked ice laid in layers between the 
produce. The amount of ice required is gauged by the 
distance the shipment is to travel and time consumed 
A block of ice in the center of the barrels is no protec- 
tion; as we stated before the ice must be cracked and 
scattered in layers throughout the barrel. 

Lettuce, beets, radishes, spinach, green onions, pars- 
ley, carrots and mustard shipped by express in barrels, 
hampers or crates must all be iced thoroughly to insure 
safe delivery to market. 



THE F I RST A I D 23 

How to Ice Radishes 

Radishes are one of the hardest products to ice prop- 
erly, and much depends on the appearance of the rad- 
ishes, discolored, bruised tops almost spoil the sales. 

First, lay your radishes in the barrel, top up, next 
layer top down, this leaves the tops of both rows of rad- 
ishes together, now on the exposed radishes not on the 
top, place your cracked ice on the radishes; make your 
layer of ice about three or four inches deep now carry 
out this system until the barrel is full and tightly 
packed. Cracked ice means cracked ice, not chunks of 
ice; no piece of ice should be larger than an egg; large 
pieces of ice shift about and bruise. 

Ice next to top of radishes, discolors the tops, rots 
them and should never touch the tops. Some shippers 
pack a barrel of radishes and place a large chunk of ice 
in the middle, this chunk of ice is no help, it's an injury ; 
it travels about in transferring the barrel from one end 
to the other and bruises and grinds the tops of the rad- 
ishes together. 

Approximate Express Charges to the Northern, 
Eastern and Western Markets 

It is impossible to give the exact express rates on 
fruits and vegetables to the northern markets in a work 
of this size. 

We wish to impress our readers wdth the fact that 
there is a State law and also a United States law that 
compels all express companies operating in the South to 
keep on file and for inspection of the public the rates 



24 THE FIRST AID 

to all points and our shippers must go to their respective 
express agents to obtain these rates, before shipping to 
any market. 

In order that our shippers may understand something 
of the rates, we give below a synopsis of the rate to some 
of the most important points, and this will give some 
very good idea of the rates. 

Interstate Express Rates on Fruits and 
Vegetables 

Froui Texas points to Oklahoma City, and all Okla- 
homa points $2.00 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Kansas City, Mo., $2.00 per 
100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Wichita, Kans., and Kansas 
points $2.50 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to St. Louis, Mo., and all Missouri 
points $300 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Omaha, Xeb., and all Nebraska 
points $3.00 i^er 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Des Moines, Iowa, and all 
Iowa points $3.00 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Minneapolis, Minn., and all 
Minnesota points $3.50 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Denver Colo., and all Colorado 
points $3.00 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Chicago, 111., and all Illinois 
points $3.00 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Detroit, Mich., and all Michigan 
points $3.50 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Buffalo and New York City 



THE FIRST A ID 25 

and all Xew York points $4.00 per 100 lbs. 

From Texas points to Pittsburg, Pa., and all Penn- 
sylvania points $3.50 per 100 lbs. 

The express rates in Texas are under the jurisdiction 
of the Eailroad Commission of Texas, and a rate sheet 
can l)e obtained from the secretary, Mr. E. R. McLain, 
Austin, Texas. 

Estimated Weights 

As Promulgated By the Railroad Commission of 

Texas for Express Shipments, Effective 

November 1, 1905. 

These estimated weights only apply between 
points in Texas. 

FRUITS. 
Estimated weights: For use unless actual weight 
is less. 

Apples, per standard barrel 150 lbs. 

Apples, 1-3 bushel box 15 lbs. 

Berries and figs, 24 quart crates 25 lbs. 

Lemons, boxes 14x13x27 inches 80 lbs. 

Oranges, boxes 14x13x27 inches 70 Ihs. 

Peaches, 1-3 bushel boxes 18 lbs. 

Peaches, 1-4 bushel boxes 125 lbs. 

Peaches, 4 baskets (1-8 bushel each) crates. 20 lbs. 

Pears, 1 bushel boxes. 40 lbs. 

Pears, 1-3 bushel boxes ••.... 15 lihs. 

Pears, Climax baskets 15 lbs. 

Plums, 4 basket (1-8 bushel each) crates... 20 lbs. 

VEGETABLES. 
Subject to tariff rates, and the following estimated 
weights unless actual weight is less: 

Beans, 1-3 bushel hox or basket 10 lbs. 

Beans, 1 bushel box or basket 30 lbs. 



26 THE FIRST AID 

Beets, with tops, flour barrels 90 lbs. 

Beets, with tops, sugar barrels 110 lbs. 

Beets, with tops, crates 16x16x26 inches 50 lbs. 

Beets, without tops, flour barrles 110 lbs. 

Beets, without tops, sugar 'barrels 125 lbs. 

Cabbage, in ^crates 20x20x28 inches 100 lbs. 

Carrots, with tops, flour barrels 90 lbs. 

Carrots, with tops, sugar barrels 110 lbs. 

Carrots, with tops, crates 16x16x26 inches.. 50 lbs. 

Carrots, without tops, flour barrels 110 lbs. 

Carrots, without tops, sugar barrels 125 lbs. 

Cauliflower, flour barrels 85 lbs. 

Cauliflower, crates 12x18x24 inches 50 lbs. 

Cucumbers, 1-3 bushel 15 lbs. 

Cucumbers, 1-2 bushel 20 lbs. 

Cucumbers, 1 bushel 40 lbs. 

Cucumbers, 11 bushel 70 lbs. 

Cucumbers, flour barrels . • • . 150 lbs. 

Cucumbers, sugar barrels 200 lbs. 

Egg plant, crates 12x12x24 inches 40 lbs. 

Egg plant, flour barrels 90 lbs. 

Egg plant, sugar barrels 110 lbs. 

Lettuce, flour barrels 60 lbs. 

Mixed vegetables, flour barrels 90 lbs. 

Mixed vegetables, sugar barrels.... 100 lbs. 

Mixed vegetables, crates 16x16x26 inches.. 50 lbs. 

Mustard, flour barrels 60 lbs. 

Mustard, sugar barrels , 70 lbs, 

OKra, 1-3 bushel 10 lbs. 

Okra, 1 bushel • • 30 lbs. 

Onions, green, flour barrels 60 lbs. 

Onions, green, sugar barrels 70 lbs. 

Onions, 1-4 bushel 15 lbs. 

Onions, 1-3 bushel 20 lbs. 

Onions, 1 bushel 60 lbs. 

Onions, flour barrels 150 lbs. 

Parsley, flour barrels. . . . • • 60 lbs. 



THE F I RST A I D 27 

Peas, 1-3 bushel 10 lbs. 

Peas, 1 bushel 30 lbs. 

Peppers, 1-3 bushel 10 lbs. 

Peppers, 1 bushel • ■ • • 30 lbs. 

Potatoes, 1-4 or 1-3 bushel 15 lbs. 

Potatoes, 1 bushel 60 lbs. 

Potatoes, flour barrels 150 lbs. 

Radishes, with tops, flour barrels 90 lbs. 

Radishes, with tops, sugar barrels 110 ITds. 

Radishes, with tops, crates 16x16x26 inches. 50 lbs. 

Radishes, without tops, flour barrels 110 lbs. 

Radishes, without tops, sugar barrels 125 Lbs. 

Spinach, flour barrels 60 lbs. 

Squash, 1-4 bushel 12J lbs. 

Squash, 1-3 bushel • • 15 lbs. 

Squash, 1 bushel 40 lbs. 

Squash, flour barrels 130 lbs. 

Tomatoes, 1-3 bushel 18 lbs. 

Tomatoes, 4-basket crates 20 lbs. 

Turnips, with tops, flour barrels 90 lbs. 

Turnips, with tops, sugar barrels 110 lbs. 

Turnips, with tops, crates 16x16x26 inches.. 50 lbs. 

Turnips, without tops, flour barrels 110 lbs. 

Turnips, without tops, sugar barrels 125 lbs. 

"Radishes, beets, mustard, turnips, spinach, lettuce, 
onions, carrots, collards and parsley, in crates 12xl2x- 
22 or 16x16x22 inches, where ice is used for preservation 
rate shall be assessed on weight 20 per cent less than 
actual gross weight." 

Fruit and vegetable empties (not refrigerators), iST. 
0. S., which have contained berries, fruits or vegetables, 
may be returned to the original shipper at the following 
rates : 

36 quart capacity or less ' oc each 

More than 36 quart capacity 10c each 

Wlien nested, merchandise pound rates Rule 14 



28 THE F I RST A I D 

It must be understood that these estimated weights do 
not apply to any interstate points. The Interstate Com- 
merce Commission has not estal)lished any estimated 
weights on interstate shipments by express, but have 
issued special package rates on fruit and vegetables 
effective May 8, 1907, a copy of which is required by 
law to be posted in every express office of the United 
States for the inspection of shippers. 

ESTIMATED WEIGHTS. 

The Express Companies agree to carry the follow- 
ing commodities from points in Texas, Louisiana 
and New Mexico, at the following weights. (Com- 
modity Tariff, No. 101 A, taking effect May 8, 1907.) 
Lettuce, Spinach, Chicory, Escarol, Parsley, 

Romaine and Endive, per flour barrel . . 60 lbs. 

Per sugar barrel 80 lbs. 

Mixed Vegetables (potatoes excepted) and 

vegetables not otherwise specified, per 

barrel • • . . 110 Ihs. 

In crates 16x16x26, per crate 65 Ihs. 

In crates, 12x12x24, per crate 40 lbs. 

Cucumbers, in barrels, sugar l)arrel 200 lbs. 

In half-bushel boxes, per box 20 lbs. 

In bushel boxes, per box 40 lbs. 

Beans, Peas, Okra and Peppers, per one-third 

bushel box or basket, each 10 lbs. 

Per bushel basket or hamper, each.... 30 lbs. 
Cauliflower, in crates 12x18x24, per crate.. 50 lbs. 
Cantaloupes, standard crates 12x12x24, crate 60 lbs. 

In sugar barrels, per barrel 200 lbs. 

Tomatoes, in 4-basket crates 23 lbs. 

In 6-basket crates, per crate 35 lbs. 

Peaches, in 4-basket crates 20 lbs. 

In 6-basket crates, per crate 40 lbs. 

Fears, in sugar barrels 200 lbs. 



THE FIRST AID 29 

How to Collect Overcharges from Express 
Companies 

Express service is made up of multitudes of small 
transactions and in the rush of the shipping season er- 
rors must naturally occur and quite frequently over- 
charges are made by express agents, and these must be 
looked after by the shippers. Every shipper that ex- 
pects to make a success must post himself in regard to 
weights, estimated weights and rates. Both the inter- 
state commerce law and State laws compel all common 
carriers, express companies included, to keep on file all 
of the tariffs to all points, for the hiSpection of the gen- 
eral public ; shippers should insist upon examining the 
rates and become familiar with the same 

When an account sale is received from a commission 
merchant, examine the same closely ; if there is any over- 
charge above the authorized rate, make out a bill for the 
amount and present the same, with the account sale 
attached, to your local express agent. The rules and 
regulations of all express companies require the agent 
to present the claim to the auditing department and get 
the overcharge refunded to the shipper. 

When the claim is fouiul correct after investigation 
the express companies will and must make refund of the 
amounts to comply with the laws governing trauspor- 
tati(!n (■()in])anies. 

Ordinary Time Required for Express Shipments 
to Reach Market 

This is a very important subject from the fact that 
many express shipments must be iced and the ice must 



30 THE F I RST A I D 

last until destination point is reaeherl, else complete loss 
of the shipment must follow. 

FoT this reason the shipper mnst know ahout how 
nuieh time is consumed on the way, and ice accordingly. 

Express shipments are supposed to move on passen- 
ger time, often however connections are missed and in 
order to avoid the shipment to go over two express com- 
panies, shipments are carried aromid a much greater 
distance than the direct way, and in estimating express 
time these conditions mnst be taken into consideration. 

We give below an express time table, taking Waco, 
Texas (being practically geographically in the center of 
Texas,) as the originating point. 

From Waco, Texas, to Dallas, Texas 8 hours 

From Waco, Texas, to Oklahoma City, Ok.. 18 hours 

From Waco, Texas, to Wichita, Kans 24 hours 

From Waco, Texas, to Kansas City, Mo 36 hours 

From Waco Texas, to Omaha, Neb 48 hours. 

From Waco, Texas, to Minneapolis, Minn.. 62 hours 

From Waco, Texas, to Denver, Colo 36 hours 

From Waco, Texas, to Chicago, 111 74 hours 

From Waco, Texas, to Detroit, Mich 86 hours 

From Waco, Texas, to Buffalo, N. Y 96 hours 

From Waco, Texas to Pittsburg, Pa 86 hours 

trom Waco, Texas, to New York, .\. Y....96 hours 

From Southwest Texas and Soiilh Texas points ^2 
]u)urs must l)e added to this time and I'd hours may be 
deducted fi-om extreme North Texas points from the 
table. Hy studying the map shippers can form a very 
good idea on the time consumed to other intermediate 
points by his shipments, and ice accordingly. 



THE FIRST AID 31 

How to Ship by Freight 

A^erv nearly all the fruits and vegetables shipped by 
freight are shipped in solid or mixed carlots, althongh 
we think a great deal o/f our heavy produce should be 
shipped by local freight in State shipments, as the cost 
is much less. To give an idea of the relative cost of ex- 
press and freight charges, let us cite as follows : The 
express charge from Texas points to the city of Chicago 
is $3 per 100 pounds. The freight charge in carlots is 
50c per 100 pounds. A bushel of cucumbers weighs 50 
pounds. Suppose a bushel of cucumbers would sell for 
$1.50 per bushel in Chicago. The shipper would get 
nothing in return by express, yet he would get 95c per 
bushel for his cucumbers if shipped in carlots, 30c being 
deducted for icing charges and commissioai. It follows 
that very little can be shipped by express to large cities 
with carlots to compete. Cars of fruits and vegetal)les 
must only be loaded by exjierienced loaders, which most 
of the refrigerator companies furnish. The minimum 
weight of a carload, as accepted by railroads, is 20,000 
pounds. This means you must pay for 20,000 pounds 
even if you put in less. If you i)ut in more you will be 
charged for the excess at regular rates. Peaches, toma- 
toes, beans, cucumbers, cantaloupes, all fruits and mixed 
vegetables must be shipped in refrigerator cars, well iced. 
An additional charge is made for this service. Water- 
melons, potatoes and (luions can be shipped in 
o])en \entilated cars without ice. Xever overload 
n car. Vou gain nothing in freight rates and it only 
adds lo the risk of the pi'oduce spoiling en route. 
Obtain a bill of lading stating iiiat contents are 



32 THE F I RST A I D 

in good order, and have it stated on bill of lading where 
re-ieing should take place. 

Time Required by Carloads to Reach Markets 

From observations we find that cars of perishables 
under fast freight schedules, including all stops for re- 
icing and transfer switches, travel about fifteen miles 
per hour and this is considered good time. Some rail- 
roads, operating special fruit and vegetable trains, even 
exceed that speedy but most roads show much less speed, 
and there is really no fixed time to depend on in freight 
movements. We have seen a car go from South Texas 
points to Chicago, 111., in four days; the very next car 
consumes nine days over the same route. 

To avoid losses by delays en route, shippers should 
file car numbers and when the car has not been reported 
arriving at the proper time, request the railroad agent 
at the shipping point to send tracer after the car; often 
losses may l)e avoided by prompt actions. 

By studying the map and noting the above speed of 
freight matter, shippers may form a close idea and know 
when his car sbould arrive. 

Approximate Freight Charges to the Northern, 
Eastern and Western Markets in Carlots 

Kreiglit rales to Ibe market are siibjctl to constant 
changes, and il is impossible in a book of this kind to 
give any permanent rates. All railroad eompanies are 
requii-ed by law to keep on file all rates governing ship- 
ments of fruits and vegetables to all points, and our 
shippers must take advantage of this law and learn and 



THE F I RST A I D 33 

become familiar willi the rates from tlieir local rail- 
road agent. 

We give below the freight rates in carlots by the 
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe E. E. and the I. & G. N. 
E. E. which will give onr shippers a very fair estimate 
of what the rates are on fruits and vegetables in car- 
lots to the markets. 

Peaches. 
Pears. 

Melons Pota. Cab. Plums. 

Okla. City, Okla...$0.35 $0.40 $0.45 $0.50 

Wichita, Kans 35 .40 .45 .50 

Des Moines, la 39 .44 .49 .55 

Kansas City, Mo.. .35 .40 .45 .50 

Omaha, Neb 39 .44 .49 .55 

Minneapolis, Minn.. .47 .52 .57 .661 

St. Louis, Mo 35 .40 .45 .50 

Chicago, 111 42 .47 .52 .59 

Detroit, Mich 53 .58 .63 .74J 

Buffalo, N. Y 57J .62J .67^ .80 

Pittsburg, Pa 57* .62 J .67J .80 

How to Ice Cars of Fruit and Vegetables 
Properly 

x\s a rule the refrigeration of railroad companies 
into whose cars the fruit and produce is loaded furnish 
experienced loaders to see that the packages are proper- 
ly fastened in the car, also to attend to the icing of 
the car and the shipper is usually relieved of any labor 
about icing or other matters. 

As the ship})er is as much or more interested in the 
welfare of the cars than the transportation companies 
he should see that every car is properly iced at starting 



34 THE FIRST AID 

point before leaving, and have it specified on bill of 
lading that the cars must be re-iced at all re-icing 
points. 

Five tons is about the proper amount of ice, 2 1/2 
tons in each bunker at the ends, that should be placed 
in the cars at the shipping point, and the car must 
be re-iced every 24 hours while en route, or else there 
is every prospect of a spoiled car. 

How to Load Fruit and Vegetables into Cars 
for Safety 

At most of the loading stations are to be found ex- 
perienced men, who understand loading cars of perish- 
able products safely into refrigerator and common box 
cars. 

Some of the refrigerator companies and railroad 
companies furnish men for this purpose, for it must 
be understood at the start, that perishable products must 
be loaded properly and with the greatest care to insure 
the contents of the car to reach the markets unbroken- 
and in good condition. 

This proper loading of the cars is as important as 
the careful packing and even icing. Every package 
box, barrel, or crate must l)e securely nailed or fastened 
with strips of wood, both lengthwise and crosswise of 
the car. All of the packages must l)e placed in such 
a manner to allow a free circulation of the cool air 
from the ice chest to penetrate to every part of the 
car and contents. 

A single weak place may ruin the whole car, as the 
constant jolting, switching and bumping has the ten- 



THE FI RST A I D 35 

deney to l)roak ilie ]:>aekages and mix the whole contents 
of tlic car into a ruinous mess. 

Tt is ])est io load the car from each end, and leave 
a vacant si)acc between the doors, this helps ventila- 
tion and prevents the weather and rains to come in 
contact with the produce, if the side doors should be 
left open, which is often done in ventilating fruit 
cars uniced, this space also helps inspection of the 
goods by the buyer. 

This vacant s])ace must be well braced with 2x4 from 
one end of the contents to the other, the main idea is 
to keep every package securely fastened in its place 
and allow not even the slightest disarrangement of 
the contents on the journe}^ 

How Many Acres of Fruit or Vegetables Must 
be Planted to Secure Carlots Daily 

The question of how 'much should be planted to se- 
cure carlots promptly is an important one to the grower 
who desires to load cars, as delays in loading cars for 
several days means always a proportionate loss, as some 
of the ])roduc(» loaded firsi will be old and wilted, if 
not spoiled, when rcadiiug the markets. 

Most of any one acre melons, cantaloupes, cabbage, 
cucumbers or onions will })roduce a full car in about 
thirty days, ])ut to secure a carload every day a pro- 
]jortionate nuuiber of acres must be planted. To make 
this perfectly plain, let us assume that an acre of cu- 
cumbers will p.roducc 400 bushels in 30 days; this 
means thirteen and one-third Imshels per acre per day. 
und 30 acres would be required to produce 400 busheU 



36 THE F I RST A I D 

every day — sufficient to load a car every 24 hours. The 
above is a low estimate, but to be on the safe side plant 
30 acres of cucumbers if you desire to load cars every 
day. 

To secure carloads every day of the following pro- 
duce, plant: 

Beans String beans) — 25 acres. 
Cabbage — 40 acres. 
Celery — 15 acres. 
Cantaloupes — 25 acres. 
Peas (English) — 20 acres. 
Potatoes (Irish) — 30 acres. 
Potatoes (Sweet) — 25 acres. 
Tomatoes — 40 acres. 
Beets — 30 acres. 
Cauliflower — 40 acres. 
Cucumbers — 30 acres. 
Corn (Sweet) — 35 acres. 
Lettuce — 15 acres. 
Onions — 25 acres. 
Radishes — 20 acres. 
Turnips — 20 acres. 
Watermelons — 40 acres. 

The above table will be found very useful to truck 
growers or associations that desire to plant sufficient 
acreage to insure prompt carload shipments. 

Eastern and Western Markets 

Some of the railroads operate and own their refrig- 
erator cars and in this case the shipper is called upon 
to pay only for the ice consumed at the rate of about 
from $2.50 to $3.00 per ton. This charge is added 
to the freight bill^ and collected for at the destination 



THE F I RST AI D 37 

points. Some of the railroads operate some of the 
cars of the private car lines, which companies charge a 
fixed amount of refrigeration to the destination point. 

The cost of ice and refrigeration may l)e ascertained 
from the local freight agent to any point upon appli- 
cation. 

The cost of I'ofrigeration per car over the Gulf, Col. 
and Santa Fe li. R. to the principal markets are from 
Texas common points to : 

Oklahoma City, Okla per car $40.00 

Wichita, Kans per car .... 45.00 

Des Moines, Iowa per car. . . . 60.00 

Kansas City, Mo per car. . . . 55.00 

Omaha, Neb per car .... 60.00 

Minneapolis, Minn per car .... 67.00 

St. Louis, Mo • • per car. . . . 55.00 

Chicago, 111 per car .... 60. 00^ 

Detroit, Mich per car. . . . 65.00 

Buffalo, N. Y per car 70.00 

Pittsburg, Pa per car- • . . 70.00 

The cost of refrigeration per car over the I. & G-. N. 
R. R. to the principal markets are from Texas com- 
mon points to : 



38 



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THE F I RST A I D 41 

How to Make and Construct Packages for 
Shipment 

We stated before in our article on packing that the 
neat appearance of a l)ox has decided influence on the 
.sale of the goods. Cerates and boxes should be well 
nailed on all sides. Boxes and crates are often roughly 
handled, and every In'oken box means a loss to the ship- 
per. Nails should be long enough to hold and when 
driven with the grain of the wood should be slightly 
slanting; in that position they will hold much better. 
A nail driven straight with the grain of the wood will 
pull out on the slightest pressure. 

Care should also be exercised that the points of the 
nails do not protrude from the edges or sides of the 
boxes. Crates and boves of fruits and vegetables are 
often transferred from one car to another in a hurry 
at night, and to have nail points sticking out 
is a very dangerous proposition for the handlers; there- 
fore for humane reasons, if for no other, all crates 
and boxes should be nailed securely. It is not advisable 
to use old weather-worn or soiled box lumber; only 
the bright and clean box or crate has an inviting ap- 
pearance. 

To ship fruits or vegetables in soap or shoe boxes or 
any old box is time and labor thrown away; the trade 
does not take kindly to such questionable receptacles. 

Marking Shipments Plainly 

It is of the utmost importance that all shipments 
should be marked plainly. During shipping seasons 
commission merchants are very Inisy people and much 



42 THE FIRST AID 

of the business falls to clerks who make mistakes like 
other people. Shipments arrive broken and thus con- 
vince the shipper that it is necessary to use caution; 
as part of a shipment is delivered to one merchant and 
part to another, and the goods check short. This should 
cause the business man to mark every shipment plainly 
He would save himself and others much annoyance and 
secure a better opinion from the commission merchant. 
A rubber stamp, with the name of the shipper, name ot 
the town and State, costs but fifty cents, and it is the 
cheapest thing on earth for the amount of good it 
does; stamped on the corner of an envelope, it will re- 
turn your letter if lost, or addressee can't be found; 
stamped on your fruit and vegetable crates, insures ac- 
curate delivery, in case of accident, the transportation 
companies can notify you of your loss or make you 
return if diverted to other markets, which sometimes 
happens. The moral of this story is : Xever allow a 
shipment, box, crate, basket, bag or any other package, 
go out of your hands, if shipped by express or freight, 
unless your name, town. State and the merchant's name 
is plainly marked on every package. 

Carelessness of Shippers 

Much annoyance, loss and misunderstanding could be 
avoided if shippers would mark every shipment plainly. 
Old and experienced shippers are aware of this fact 
and we wish to inform our new shippers of the impor- 
tance of this idea. 

On our visit to New York a commission merchant, 
we know to be one of the most reliable men in the 



THE FIRST A ID 43 

business, showed us an envelope in which were checks 
aggregating $600, made out in blank, and account sales 
for produce received in a single month from shippers 
who had neither sent au}^ mail advices of their ship- 
ments nor marked the packages with their names and 
addresses. In some cases the names but not the ad- 
dresses were given, in most cases neither. 

Another commission merchant received a package of 
butter by express with no marks to show the con- 
signor. He took the trouble to write the express agent 
at the office from which it was received, thinking he 
would know the shipper. But the agent said he found 
the tub, properly marked as far as destination was 
concerned, on the platform when he returned from 
lunch, so he sent it on, but no one had ever appeared 
to stand sponsor for it. 

We hope the foregoing will impress our readers with 
the importance of always marking shipments plainly. 

The Use of Mail, Telegraph and Telephone for 
Market Quotations and Shipping 

Both mail and telegraph service are Indespensable 
during shipping season, as often a single message may 
avoid a loss of hundreds of dollars. The main points 
are the conditions of markets and movements of cars. 
When a shipper keeps a perfect record of his car and 
knows about what point the car should be at, he can, 
upon learning that the market for w^hich his car was 
originally destined is becoming overstocked on the class 
of products in his car, divert his car or cars to more 
favorable markets. On the through rate this privi- 



44 THE F I RST AI D 

lege is accorded to shippers by all railroad companies, 
and every railroad agent at shipping points has instruc- 
tions to fnrnish shippers with all necessary information 
for the ])rom])t diversion of cars. It is therefore ob- 
vious thai liberal use of teU'graj^h facilities is advisa- 
ble on all occasions. 

Payment for Telegrams 

Numbers of shippers are in the habit of sending many 
telegrams collect to commission merchants, asking about 
market quotations. This is a hard tax on the com- 
mission nuTchant and should not be indulged in. If 
the information asked for in the telegram is for the 
benefit of the sender of the telegram, the telegram 
should be paid for by the sender. This is a common 
rule among all business men and should be strictly 
adhered to. 

How to Find Out the Reliability of Any Com- 
mission Merchant in the Various Markets 

At this time it is not a difficult matter for any 
shipper to post himself thorouglily on the standing, 
reliability and responsibility of any commission mer- 
chant operating in the United States markets. 

We have for instance, The National League of Com- 
mission Merchants of the United States, operating in 
al)ont thirty-five of the largest markets of this country 
with a mend)ership of over 500 firms. 

Mend)ers of this organization are only admitted after 
an investigation by a special committee, that firms ap- 



THE FIRST A ID 45 

plying for membership are capitalized and reputable 
business concerns. 

In addition to this oganization we have The Western 
Fruit Jobbers Association operating in abont eighty lead- 
ing "Western markets, with a membership of 215 mem- 
bers, similar to the National League of Commission 
Merchants, admittance o^f firms to this organization 
is only allowed after a thorough investigation by a 
special committee, as to the reliability and responsi- 
bility of the firms applying for membership. 

Each one of these organizations have a special em- 
blem, which the members use on their stationery and 
advertisements and shippers can soon become familiar 
with these distinctions. 

It must not be inferred however, that commission 
merchants not belonging to either of these organiza- 
tions are unreliable or untrustworthy, for we have 
thousands of commission merchants operating in hun- 
dreds of markets, that do not belong to any organization 
who are up to date and responsible firms, it is only 
in the absence of any information that we call the 
attention of our shippers to safe guards provided by 
these organizations. 

We have also' the commercial agencies, who furnish 
infonr.ation in regard to any firm in the T'nited States 
upon ap])plication. 

Tlu' safest plan for shipi)ing if any special informa- 
tion about any firm is recpiired apply to the local bamc, 
merchants or trade papers, concerning unknown firms 
and in most instances the information will be cheer- 
fully furnished. 



46 THE F I RST A I D 

F. O. B. Sales 

F. 0. B. sales means the goods must be paid for 
when loaded and before it leaves the shipper's station. 
The same rule applies if the buyer diverts the car to 
other points. With the consent of the shipper drafts 
F. 0. B. may be paid upon arrival of car at destina- 
tion. 

Advance on Consignment 

Advance on consignment is payable at any time 
when requested, even before the car is loaded or roll- 
ing. Advances on consignments may be made on grow- 
ing crops and crops to be bought for the consignee. 

Joint Account 

Joint accounts means profits and losses alike to ship- 
per and consignee. Mutual contracts l)etween parties 
concerned must be drawn and reduced to writing, prop- 
erly witnessed. 

Brokerage Rules 

A l)roker cannot claim l)r()kera«ii' on a rejected car 
unless he succeeds in selling the car to other parties, 
with the consent and satisfaction of ilie shipper. 

The usual Ijrokerage charges are five dollars per car. 

A bull is one who operates to raise the value of 
stocks, that he may buy for a rise. 

A bear is one who sells stocks for rulure delivery, 
which he does not own at the time of sale.. 

A corner is when the bears cannot buy or borrow the 
stock to deliver in fulfillment of their contracts. 



THE F I RST AI D 47 

Overloaded is when the bulls cannot take and pay for 
the stock they have purchased. 

Short is when a person or party sells stocks when 
they have none, and expect to buy or borrow in time to 
deliver. 

Long is when a person or party has a plentiful supply 
of stocks. 

A pool or ring is a combination formed to control the 
price of stocks. 

A broker is said to carry stocks for his customer when 
he has bought and is holding it for his account. 

A wash is a pretended sale by special agreement be- 
tween buyer and seller, for the purpose of getting a 
quotation reported. 

A put and call is when a ])erson gives so much per 
cent, for the option of buying or selling so much stock 
on a certain fixed day, at a price fixed the day the op- 
tion is given. 

SEEDS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A GIVEN 
NUMBER OF PLANTS. 

Cabbage, 1 ounce to 2,900 plants. 
Cauliflower, 1 ounce to 3,000 plants. 
Cucumbers, 1 ounce to 80 hills. 
Egg plants, 1 ounce to 2,000 plants 
Onion seed, 1 ounce to 200 feet drill. 
Tomatoes, 1 ounce to 3,000 plants. 
Tobacco, 1 ounce to 5,000 plants. 

PLANTS OR TREES IN ACRE. 

Distance Apart — No. 

3 inches by 3 inches 696,960 

4 inches by 4 inches 392,040 



48 THE F I RST A I D 

6 inches by G inches.. 174,240 

y inches bj'^ 9 inches 77,440 

1 foot by 1 foot 43,560 

1^ feet by 11 feet 19,360 

2 feet by 1 foot 21,780 

2 feet by 2 feet 10,800 

2i feet by 2^ feet 6,960 

3 feet by 1 foot 14,520 

3 feet by 2 feet 7,260 

3 feet by 3 feet 4,840 

dh feet by 3J feet 3,555 

4 feet by 1 foot 10,890 

4 feet by 2 feet • • •' 5,445 

4 feet by 3 feet c;,630 

4 feet by 4 feet 2,722 

U feet by 4^ feet 2,151 

5 feet by 5 feet • 1,742 

6 feet by 6 feet 1,210 

61 feet by 6i feet 1,031 

7 feet by 7 feet 681 

8 feet by 8 feet 680 

9 feet by 9 feet 537 

] feet by 10 feet 435 

11 feet by 11 feet 360 

12 feet by 12 feet 302 

13 feet by 13 feet 257 

1 4 feet by 14 feet 221 

15 feet by 15 feet 193 

16 feet by 16 feet 170 

17 feet by 17 feet 150 

18 feet by 18 feet 134 

19 feet by 19 feet 120 

20 feet by 20 feet -. • • 108 

25 feet by 25 feet •.. 69 

30 feet by 30 feet 48 

40 feet by 40 feet 27 

50 feet by 50 feet 17 



THE F I RST A I D 49 

STANDARD WEIGHT OF SEEDS. 

Alfalfa, Clover, per bushel 60 lbs. 

Alsike Clover GO lbs. 

Barley , 48 lbs. 

Beans 60 lbs. 

Broom Corn 46 lbs. 

Buckwheat 48 lbs. 

Canary Seed 60 lbs. 

Castor Beans 46Tbs. 

Clover Seed, red 60 lbs. 

Clover Seed, white 60 lbs. 

Clover Seed, crimson 60 lbs. 

Clover Seed, Japan 25 lbs. 

Clover Seed, Burr, measured 8 lbs. 

Corn, shelled, Adams 50 lbs. 

Corn, shelled, Sugar 46 lbs. 

Corn, shelled. Field 56 lbs. 

Corn, on ear 70 lbs. 

Flax Seed 56 lbs. 

Grass Seed, English Rye 20 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Italian Rye 20 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Meadow Fescue 15 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Orchard 14 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Kentucky Blue 14 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Timothy 45 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Hungarian 48 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Johnson 25 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Meadow Oats 14 lbs. 

Grass Seed, Rescue 14 lbs. 

Hemp Seed 44 lbs. 

Irish Potatoes, heaped measure 60 lbs. 

Millet, German and Italian 50 lbs. 

Mustard 58 lbs. 

Oats 32 lbs. 

Osage Orange 33 lbs. 

Onions 54 lbs. 

Onion Sets .,... 32 lbs. 



50 THE F I RST AID 

Peas, Cow 60 lbs. 

Peas, English, smooth seed GO lbs. 

Peas, English, wrinkled 56 lbs. 

Rape Seed 50 lbs. 

Rye 56 lbs. 

Radish Seed 50 lbs. 

Sweet Potatoes 56 lbs. 

Sorghum 50 lbs. 

Sunflower, Russian 24 lbs. 

Teosinthe 50 lbs. 

Turnip 58 lbs;. 

Vetch 60 lbs. 

Wheat 60 lbs. 

Seed Usually Sown on an Acre 

Barley, broadcast 1^ bu. 

Beans, pole, in hills 10 to 12 qts. 

Beets, in drills 5 to 6 lbs. 

Broom Corn, in hills S to 10 qts. 

Buckwheat 1 bu 

Cabbage, to transplant 3-4 lb. 

Carrots, in drills 3 to 4 lbs. 

Chinese sugar cane 12 qts. 

Corn, in hills 8 to 10 qts. 

Corn, for soiling 3 bu. 

Cucumbers, in hills 2 lbs 

Flax, broadcast 1 i lbs. 

Hemp 11 ))„. 

Flax, broadcast 1^ bu. 

Melon, musk, in hills 2 to 3 lbs. 

Melon, water, in hills 4 to 5 lbs. 

Mustard, broadcast i lb. 

Millet, broadcast 2 to 3 bu. 

Onions, in drills .5 to 6 bu. 

Onions, for sets, in drills 30 lbs. 

Parsnips, in orills 4 to 6 lbs. 

Peas, in drills li bu. 



THE F I RST A I D 51 

Peas, broadcast 3 bu. 

Potatoes, cut tubers 10 bu. 

Pumpkins, in hills 4 to 6 bu. 

Radish, in drills S to 10 lbs. 

Rye, broadcast 1^ to 2 bu. 

Spinach, indrills 10 to 12 lbs 

Salsify, in drills 8 to 10 lbs. 

Spinarh, in drills lOto 12 lbs. 

Squa&h, bu. var., in hills 4 to G lbs. 

Tomatoes to transplant ^ lb. 

Turnips, in drills | to 2 lbs. 

Turnips, broadcast 3 to 4 lbs. 

Vetches, broadcast 2 to 3 lbs. 

Wheat li to 2 bu. 

Approximate Time for Certain Varieties of 
Seeds to Germinate 

Asparagus 20 days Mustard 6 days 

B eans S days Okra 10' days 

Cabbage 8 days Onions 10 days 

iCauliflower 10 days Parsley 20 days 

Celery 4, days Peas 8 days 

Collards 10 days Pepper 10 days 

Corn 8 days Pumpkins 8 days 

Cucumbers 8 days Radish 4 days 

Egg plant 10 days Spinach 8 days 

Lettuce 4 days Tomatoes 10 days 

Watermelons ... 10 days Turnips 4 days 

Cantaloupes .... 8 days Tobacco 10 days 

Table Showing the Quantity of Garden Seeds 
Required to Plant a Given Space 

Designation — 
Asparagus. .1 oz. produces 1,000 plants, and requires 

a bed 12 feet square. 
Asparagus Roots — 1,000 plant a bed 4 feet wide, 225 

feet long. 
English Dwarf Beans — 1 quart plants from 100 to 150 

feet of row. 



52 THE F I RST A ID 

French Dwarf Beans — 1 quart plants 250 or 350 feet 

of row. 
Beans, Pole, large— 1 quart plants 100 hills. 
Beans, Pole, small— 1 quart plants 300 hills, or 250 

feet of row. 
Beets— 10 lbs. to the acre; 1 oz. plants 150 ft. of row. 
Broccoli and Kale— 1 oz. plants 2,500 plants, and re- 
quires 40 square feet of ground. 
Cabbage — Early sorts same as broccoli, and require 

1)0 square feet of ground. 
Cauliflower — The same as cabbage. 
Carrot — 1 oz. to 150 feet of row. 
Celery — 1 oz. gives 7,000 plants and requires 8 square 

feet of ground. 
Cucumber — 1 oz. for 150 hills. 
Cress — 1 oz. sows a bed 16 feet square. 
Egg Plant — 1 oz. gives 2,000 plants. 
Endive — 1 oz. gives 3,000 plants and requires SO feet 

of ground. 
Leek — 1 oz. gives 2,000 plants and requires 60 feet of 

ground. 
Lettuce — 1 oz. gives 7,000 plants and requires seed 

bed of 120 feet. 
Melon— 1 oz. for 120 hills. 
Nasturtium — 1 oz. sows 25 feet of row. 
Onion — 1 oz. sows 200 feet of row. 
Okra — 1 oz. sows 2,000 feet of row. 
Parsley — 1 oz. sows 2,000 feet of row. 
Parsnip — 1 oz. sows 250 feet of row. 
Peppers — 1 oz. gives 2,500 feet of row. 
Peas — 1 qt. sows 120 feet of row. 
Pumpkin — 1 oz. to 50 hills. 
Radish— 1 oz. to 100 feet. 
Salsify — 1 oz. to 150 feet of row. 
Spinach— 1 oz. to 200 feet of row. 
Squash — 1 oz. to 75 hills. 



THE FIRST A ID 53 

Tomato — 1 oz. gives 2,500 plants, requiring seed bed 

of 80 feet. 
Turnip — 1 oz. to 2,000 feet. 
Watermelon — 1 oz. to 50 hills. 

Approximate Time it Requires for Veget- 
ables to Mature Ready for Shipment 
From the Planting of the Seed 

Beans (String) 55 days 

Beets 90 days 

Cabbage 105 days 

Canteloupes 80 days 

Carrots 90 days 

Cauliflower 120 days 

Celery 100 days 

Corn (Sweet) 65 days 

Cucumbers 50 days 

Egg Plants 85 days 

Irish Potatoes 80 days 

Sweet Potatoes 100 days 

Lettuce • 70 days 

Onions (Bermuda) 150 days 

Onions (Common) 110 days 

Peppers 90 days 

Tomatoes 125 days 

Turnips 45 days 

Radishes 40 days 

Watermelons 90 days 

What Month in the Year are Southern Vegeta- 
bles in Best Demand in the Northern Markets 

JANUARY. 

English peas, radishes, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, 
beets, carrots, celery, cauliflower, mustard, green onions, 
parsley and turnips. 



54 THE FIRST AID 

TEBRUARY. 

New Irish potatoes^ string beans, asparagus, cabbage, 
carrots, cauliflower, celery, radishes, spinach, beets, Eng- 
lish peas, lettuce, mustard, green onions, turnips and 
parsley. 

MARCH. 

(kicunihers, Irish potatoes, string beans, squash, as- 
paragus, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, rad- 
ishes, spinach, English peas, lettuce, mustard, green 
onions, turnips, parsley and strawberries. 

APRIL. 

Strawberries, cucumbers, squash, Irish potatoes 
string beans, parsely, turnips, green onions, mustard, 
lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, celery, cauliflower, car- 
rots, cabbage, beets and asparagus. 

MAY. 

As Northern vegetables are now appearing only cu- 
cumbers, squash, string beans, Irish potatoes, cabbage, 
cantaloupes, corn (sweet), egg plants, peppers, toma- 
toes, okra can be shipped to expect profit. 

JUNE. 

Watermelons, ])eaches, Irish potatoes, tomatoes, some 
cucumbers, squash, string beans, cantaloupes, corn 
(sweet), vgg plants, peppers and okra. 

JULY. 

Watermelons, j^eaches, plums and cantaloupes; other 
truck is now home grown. 

AUGUST. 

Watermelons, peaches, plums and early apples. The 
season is now enrlerl for Soutliern produce on the North- 
ern markets. 



THE F I RST A I D 55 

Markets for Fall Vegetables 

Each year as Southern truck growers become more 
and more familiar with the requirements of the mar- 
kets, experience teaches them ' that fall gardening of 
vegetables in Texas can be made highl}- profitable — 
even more so than spring gardening — for the reason 
that in the spring, as the season advances, prices de- 
cline very rapidly, and quite the opposite is true in fall 
gardening, because as soon as the early frosts nip the 
early vegetables in the North, prices advance and the 
demand for Southern green vegetables increases until 
the icy blasts of winter forbid any out-door gardening 
in the Xorth, and the hot-houses and hot-beds must be 
resorted to, but the growing of vegetables under glass 
is expensive and limited, and this offers the opportunity 
to the Southern shippers to supply these eager markets 
with green vegetal)les during the fall and winter months, 
fresh and crisp from the Southern fields. Even North 
Texas cities are good markets for the South Texas gar- 
deners in certain lines of vegetables. 

The most profitable vegetables for fall planting and 
fall markets are beets, snap beans, cabbage, carrots 
cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, egg plants, lettuce, mus- 
tard, okra, onions (green), English peas, peppers, Irish 
and sweet potatoes, radishes, turnips, spinach and to- 
matoes. 

Estimating Measures 

A pint of water weighs nearly one pound, and is equal 
to 27 cubic inches, or a square box 3 inches long, 3 
inches wide and 3 inches deep. 



56 THE F I RST AI D 

A quart of water weighs nearly 2 pounds^ and is 
equal to a square box of about 4x4 inches, and is 3y2 
inches deep. 

A gallon of water weighs 8 to 10 pounds, according 
to the size of the gallon, and is equal to a box 6x6 inches 
square and 6, 7 or 7^ inches deep. 

A peck is equal to a box 8x8 inches square and 8 
inches deep. 

A bushel almost fills a box 12x12 inches square and 
24 inches deep, or 2 cubic feet. 

A cubic foot of water weighs nearly 64 pounds (more 
correctly, 62^ pounds), and contains 7 to 8 gallons, 
according to the kind of gallons used. 

A barrel of water almost fills a box 2x2 feet square 
and I'jA feet deep, or 6 cubic feet. 

Petroleum barrels contain 40 gallons, or nearly 5 
cubic feet. 

How to Weigh Without Scales 

To weigh without scales remember that ten eggs weigh 
1 pound ; soft butter the size of an egg weighs 1 ounce ; 
one pint A sugar weighs 12 ounces; one quart flour 
weighs 1 pound; one pint brown sugar weighs 13 ounces; 
two teacups (level) granulated sugar weigh 1 pound; 
tAvo teacups (well heaped) A sugar weigh 1 pomid; two 
teacups soft butter weigh 1 pound; one pint liquor 
weighs 1 pound ; one pint chopped meat w^eighs 1 pound. 

Profits that May be Reasonably Expected from 
One Acre of Land in Fruits and Vege- 
tables in the South 

FRUITS. 
Strawberries per acre . . $:J0().()(> 



THE FIRST A ID 57 

Blackberries per acre. . 250.00 

Figs per acre . . 200.00 

Grapes per acre . . 250.00 

Peaches per acre . . 200.00 

Peanuts iper acre . . 150.00 

Plums per acre . . 250.00 

VEGETABLES. 

Beans (Snap beans) peracre. .$300.00 

Beets per acre. . 200.00 

Cabbage per acre. . 150.00 

Cantaloupes per acre. . 200.00 

Cauliflower per acre . . 300.00 

Celery per acre . . 350.00 

Cucumbers per acre. . 125.00 

Egg Plants per acre. . 150.00 

Watermelons per acre . . 100.00 

Onions (Bermuda) per acre . . 300.00 

Onions (Creole) per acre. . 250.00 

Potatoes (Irish) per acre . . 100.00 

Potatoes (Sweet) peracre.. 75.00 

Pt.adishes .' per acre . . 250.00 

Spinach per acre. . 150.00 

Tomatoes per acre. . 175.00 

Apples and Potatoes 

TO FIND NUMBER OF BUSHELS IN BIN OR BOX. 

Rule: ]\Iultiply the lengthy breadth and depth to- 
gether, all in feet, and this product l)y 8, pointing oi? 
one figure in the product for decimal. 

Example : How man}^ bushels of apples are there in 
a bin 12 feet long, 3 feet wide and 4 feet deep? 
12X3X-t=144X.8=115.2. 

Answer: 115.2 bushels. 



58 THE FIRST A ID 

Business Laws in Brief 

Ignorance of law excuses none. 

It is fraud to conceal a fraud. 

The law compels no one to do impossibilities. 

An agreement Avithout consideration is void. 

fSigiiatures iiiade with lead-pencil are good in law. 

A receipt for money paid is not legally conclusive. 

The acts of. one partner bind all the others. 

Contracts made on Sunday cannot be enforced. 

A contract made with a minor is invalid. 

A contract made with a limatic is void. 

Contracts for advertising in Sunday newspapers are 
invalid. 

Each individual in a partnership is responsible for 
the whole amount of the debts of the firm. 

Principals are responsible for the acts of their agents. 

Agents are responsible to their principals for errors. 

A note given by a minor is void. 

It is not legally necessary to say on a note "for value 
received. " i3i 

A note drawn on Sunday is void. 

A note obtained by fraud^ or from a person in a state 
of intoxication, cannot be collected. 

If a note be lost or stolen^ it does not release the 
maker; he must pay. 

The indorser of a note is exempt from liability if not 
served with notice of its dishonor within twentj^-four 
hours of its non-payment. 



PART II 

Directions How to Pack and 
Ship Fruits to the Markets 



I 



THE FIRST AID 61 

How to Select, Pack and Ship Fruits Properly 

APPLES. 

Apples are usually packed in standard apple bar- 
rels and holding 2^4 bushels. 

In the Western States the standard apple box is now 
used almost exclusively. 

Graded — Apples unfit for either Number One or Num- 
ber Two grades should be converted into cider or stock 
food. The standard for size for Nimiher One apples 
shall not be less than two and one-half inches in diam- 
eter, and shall include only standard varieties. Number 
One apples shall be, at the time of packing, free from 
worms, defacement of surface; shall be hand-picked from 
the tree, a bright and good color and shapely form. 
Number Two apples shall be hand-picked from the tree; 
shall not be smaller than two inches in diameter. The 
skin must not be broken or the apple bruised. 

APRICOTS. 

Apricots being a tender fruit, easily bruised, should 
never be packed in large crates or boxes. The Cali- 
fornia shippers use a 4-basket crate, which answers the 
purpose very well. In the South where apricots are 
grown and shipped the 4-l)asket tomato or peach crate 
would fonn the most desirable ])ackage for apricots in 
the al)sence of any other Ijox or crate. 

BLACKBERRIES. 

Blackberries are a very tender fruit, and in packing 
Ijlackljerries for shipping the greatest care must Ije ex- 
ercised. The berries should be firm and assorted, dis- 
carding any over-ripe berries, and placed in quart 



62 THE FIRST AID 

boxes, and then in the 24-qiiart strawberry crate. It 
is useless to ship blackberries to any great distance, as 
they would invariably spoil on the road. Blackberries 
will not hold np more than 24 hours on the way. The 
express companies estimate a crate of berries at 25 
pounds in state shipments and 33 1/3 pounds to the 
ci-ato on interstate shipments. 

DEWBERRIES. 

Dewberries are somewhat firmer than blackberries, but 
also easily spoiled. The berries should be picked over, 
removing all over-ripe and soft, and then placed in quart 
boxes and in strawberry crates for shipment. Near-by 
points and markets can only be used with dewberries 
as beyond 24 hours' travel they would arrive in bad 
condition. The express companies estimate a crate of 
dewberries of 24 quarts at 25 pounds to the crate in 
Texas and 33 1/3 out of the State. 

FIGS. 

The use of the figs in the ripe state as a fresh fruit is 
constantly increasing in all markets, and there is no 
doubt but that the shipping of ripe figs will become an 
important issue in a short time — as fast as the delicious 
flavor and swtvl qualities of the fig hecoiuc better known. 
The hardest |)r()blem is io place the ri])e figs in the 
market in a good state, as the fruil is extremely tender, 
soft and easily spoiled. 

Packing and Sliipping — During the ripening season 
figs must be picked every day; as soon as one shows a 
large increased size and color it must be picked and 
packed for market. Figs should be carefully and nicely 



THE F I RST A I D 63 

packed in strawberry boxes and in crates holding twenty- 
four of the quart boxes. 

GRAPES. 

Grapes are very tender and easily bruised. The ap- 
pearance of the bnnches gauges the selling price to a 
large extent, therefore grapes mnst always be shipped in 
sin all packages, snch as the 8-poimd grape basket or the 
California crate with four square baskets to the crate. 
Before ])acking, all unripe or inferior berries should be 
removed from the bunches, as looks is everything in 
grapes. The packages must be well secured and care- 
fully handled. 

* ORANGES. 

As the orange industry in the Coast Country has as- 
sumed large proportions and no standard box has yet 
been adopted, some measures should be taken by the 
orange shippers to adopt a suitable package. Standard 
oi-anges in Florida and California are packed and shipped 
in the standard boxes. The small varieties, such as the 
Tangerines and Mandarines, are packed in one-half 
size boxes, and this package ought to be adopted by the 
Texas orange shippers. A flat box holding about 100 of 
the Satsuma oranges would be fouiul In be the most con- 
venient and attractive box lo use. 

\(). 1 or fancy are of medium size, l)right and sound. 
Xo. 2 grade consists of large or small sizes and russets. 

PEACHES. 

Peaches should l)e packed before they are tlioroughly 
ripe ()]• soft and carefully assoi'ted as to size and qual- 
ity, throwing out all deformed, wormy or colorless ones. 
Too much attention cannot be bestowed upon these 



64 THE FIRST A ID 

points, an appearance and neat packing is everything. 
The most favorite package is the four-basket crate, and 
slioiild be used exchisively. Make your crate neat and 
mark plainly. 

Peach Grades. 

Michigan Peach Grades. — Fancy XXXX. — Peaches 2 
incbes and upwards in size, perfect in every respect, 
higbly colored, carefully packed, sutiable for long dis- 
tance shipment. 

XXX. — Peaches that are 1^ to 2 inches in size, 
smooth, sonnd, well matured and colored, suitable for 
shipment long distances, well packed. 

XX. — Peaches that are 1^ to 1^ inches in size. 

Culls, — All that are 1^/4 inch and less in size. 

Te.vas and Arl-ansas Peach Grades. — Choice peaches 
shall be of uniformly large size, the variety quoted 
smooth and sound, free from blemishes, carefully picked 
and packed in four- or six-basket crates, tit for ship- 
ment to distant markets. 

Xo. 1 peaches of medium to large size, smooth and 
sound, packed same as choice. 

Xo. 2 peaches, uneven in size, some slightly over-ripe 
and defective and not good enough for Xo. 1, but that 
will sfjiiid shi])rnf'nt to near-l)y mnrkeis. 

PEANUTS. 

Before ship])ing peanuts the pods must be cured and 
thoroughly dried. If shipped at all green, wet or even 
damp the jiods will invariably discolor, aud this will 
spoil the sale of the nuts at the market jirice, and they 
have to be sold as "oif" goods. Many of the larger 
growers provide narrow cribs similar to those employed 



THE FIRST AID 65 

for the storage of corn, and the peanuts are kept in 
l)iilk until sold. 

Wlien tlio ]io(ls are cured and dry they may be placed 
in sacks holding from 50 to 100 lbs. and shipped in this 
manner to the markets. 

PEARS. 

The Le Conte pear, being of an inferior grade, may 
be sliipped in plain bushel boxes or basket. They should 
be picked for market before becoming soft, because if 
they are once soft they become unmarketable. 

The better grades of pears, such as the Bartlett, should 
be wrapped in paper and packed in half bushel boxes. 

Varieties like the Kieffer and other hard pears should 
be picked as soon as the seeds turn black and covered 
with a wagon sheet or straw until they become mellow. 
Some of these varieties can be turned into very good 
eating pears in following this process. 

No. 1. — Soft varieties for eating purposes, even size 
and good color. California packs in standard boxes con- 
taining 100 pears. 

No. 2. — Irregular sizes, but of good flavor and color. 

No. 3. — Cooking pears rank as No. 3 ; must be sound 
and free of worm-holes. 

PECANS. 

After the pecans have become thoroughly ripe, the 
nuts should be graded into three grades. 

No. 1. — Uniform large size, soft shells and shells 
well filled, free of worms. 

No. 2. — Medium size grade; must run even. 

No. 3. — Small or mixed lots, hard and soft shells. 

All of the hulls and inferior nuts removed by hand- 



66 THE F I RST A I D 

picking and shipped in alx)iit 100 ]lis. sacks to the mar- 
ket. 

PERSIMMONS. 

Persimmons must be gathered while still firm, placed 
in quart boxes and shipped in 24-quart strawberry 
crates. 

Tt is useless to ship persimmons any great distance 
as they are highly perishable and unsalalile after they 
Ijecome soft and bruised. 

PLUMS. 

Plums, in order to reach market in good condition, 
must be picked before they are ripe and placed in small 
packages, like the third-bushel box, four-basket crate 
or half-bushel baskets. 

Xo. 1. — Plums are only salable as No. 1 grade. They 
must be of even size, good color and sound. No demand 
or sale for green, soft or wormy plums. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

To make strawberry culture a profitable venture, the 
proper picking and packing are the most important 
items. The beds must be gone over every day and every 
berry picked that shows the slightest color. A small 
part of the stem should be left on each berry and the 
berry picked from the vine and not pulled off, as this 
injures both the berry and the vines. Usually the ber- 
ries are picked in the field in the quarts and pints in 
which they are transported to market. This saves hand- 
ling over, which is always more or less injurious to 
fruits of all kinds. The standard crates are the 24- 
quart or 24-pint crates. 

Strawberries may be shipped by express without ice, 



THE F I RST A ID 67 

When shipped in earlots, they must he shipped in re- 
frigerator cars, well iced and re-iced in transit. 

No. 1 grade is hased as follows : Berries must be of 
good red color, firm, free from rot or blemish, boxes well 
filled, and berries laid even on surface of quart. 

Xo. 2. — Berries of lighter color than No. 1 grade, 
free from rot or blemish, good even run in size, may be 
some softer than No. 1, but firm enough to carry well 
to markets. 

No. 3. — Smaller size berries, both red and light color, 
of any variety, not suited to be placed with No. 2 or No. 
1 grades, free from rot or extra soft berries, but may 
contain some berries softer than No. 1 or No. 2 grade, 
boxes well filled. 

It should be the intention of all shippers and associa- 
tions not to allow any berries to go in either of these 
grades that the boxes are not well filled, or that may 
contain enough berries of any description that would 
injure the balance of the fruit in the box. 

WALNUTS. 

The English walnuts, after the hulls have been re- 
moved, are dried and placed in 100-lb.sac?t:s to ship to 
tlie markets. 

The wild walnuts are placed in heaps until the hulls 
loosen, and allow them to be cleaned to some extent, 
when they can be placed in barrels or sacks and shipped 
to the market. No other directions are necessary. 



PART III 

Directions How to Select, Pack and 
Ship Vegetables to the Markets 



THE F I RST A I D 71 

How to Select, Pack and Ship Vegetables 
Properly 

ASPARAGUS. 

Hnrvesting. — At the first signs of early spring watch 
your asparagus bed closely. A\Tien in places the sur- 
face shows lightly l^roken elevations, take a long, sharp 
knife, insert eight inches deep and cut the shoot, even 
hefore it shows out of the ground. There is a special 
asparagus knife or chisel sold by seedmen for that pur- 
pose. Tt the shoots are cut before showing they will be 
more tender, of white color tipped with a pink tinge, 
which adds much to the attractiveness and beauty of 
the asparagus shoots. 

Pacl'ing and Shipping. — AAHien asparagus has been 
cut, take it to the packing table and tie twelve shoots 
in a bunch, if good size; if not, place eighteen or even 
twenty-four in the bunches. Asparagus should be 
packed in bushel boxes, marking on the outside of the 
l)ox the number of bunches contained in the package. 

In the early spring, even before the crop of asparagus 
is ready, growers should write to dealers in produce and 
commission merchants and state the amount of aspar- 
agus they will liave for marlvct. It is not imusual that 
the entire ci'op can be contracted for at pound rates, 
as dealers \n all uiarkets are always anxious to obtain 
early asparagus. Asparagus is a desirable money crop 
for both merchant and shipper. 

The California shippers of asparagus place the as- 
])aragus in an odd-shaped box, somewhat wider at the 
bottom than at the top, to conform with the shape of 
the asparagus, and which makes a handsome and at- 



72 THE FIRST AID 

tractive package. Our shippers might profitably follow 
the California custom. 

BEANS — STRING. 

As soon as beans attain full size and the seed about 
one-half matured in the pod, they should be picked; if 
picked before, they will shrivel up and become unsale- 
able ; if too old, too tough for use. Picking should be 
done every other day. 

Beans, as a rule, carry 1)est in small packages, like the 
one-half-bushel basket or one-third-bushel box; if packed 
in larger crates they are apt to heat and spoil. We have 
always used one-third-bushel boxes. 

Beans can also be shipped to good advantage in one- 
half-bushel baskets or hamper. On the Atlantic Coast 
and Louisiana beans are shipped altogether in hampers 
Some sliippers have a knack of splitting the top and 
bottom of the boxes, then leave a crack and lay the 
beans crosswise of this crack. This adds much to the 
attractiveness of the shipments of beans, and attractive- 
ness always pays well. 

Sliipplnr/- — Beans can be shipped in carlots, well iced 
to all large markets, and by express to small markets in 
one-third, one-half-bushel or hampers without ice. In 
barrels beans must be iced with cracked ice, as they are 
lial)l(> to heat and spoil. Tii carlots beans must be 
shipped in refrigerator cars, well iced, and re-iced in 
transit. When your l)eans are ready for market, write 
to the dealers in the various markets for advice. Study 
distances and rates and ship only when conditions are 
favorable in certain markets. There is a heavy demand 
for string beans in every market in the early spring 



THE F I RST A I D 73 

and good money can be made on beans, when our direc- 
tions are followed. We consider beans one of the most 
profitable of vegetables, realizing often $300 per acre 
in a short time. 

BEETS. 

Harvesting and Packing. — As soon as the beets attain 
the size of a silver dollar they are marketable. Pull and 
cut off ])art of the long roots and tie in bunches of six 
to the bunch. If large, say double the size, place three 
in the bunches. Beets are quoted from 25 to 75 cents 
per dozen bunches. It is not advisable to allow the 
beets to grow too large, as they become unsalable. We 
often read about some truck grower having grown beets 
to weigh 12 or 15 pounds. Such beets are unsalable 
The trade does not want large vegetables, either of beets, 
cabagc, potatoes or onions. Large specimens are fine to 
look at or for exhibition, hut are not wanted by the trade 
in the market. Melium size vegetables always sell the 
best. Like radishes, beets can be packed in crates oi« 
barrels, well ventilated. When beets are shipped by ex- 
press they should be packed in l)arrels with cracked ice 
a layer of ice, then a laver of lieets, using from 10 to 
30 pounds of ice ])ei' l)arrel, otherwise they will heat 
and spoil. Before youi' cro]) of beets is ready to move 
write to our advertisers and get quotations and study 
your freight and express I'ates, and, if advisable, shij). 
Beets are in excellent demand during the montlis of 
December, January, February and March, and our 
truckers should grow them in large enough quantities 
to supply the demand. 



74 THE FI RS T AID 

CABBAGE. 

Marketing. — When cabbage shows signs of hardness it 
shoiild be gone over and cut for market. A light hatchet 
or a heavy butcher knife are the best tools. A limited 
amoimt of cabbage may be shipped to small markets by 
express in sacks (we prefer the crates), but the bulk 
of the cabbage crop must always be shipped in car lots 
for profit. As a rule, cabbage is shipped in refrigerator 
cars, well iced, as it is very apt to heat. Pack only in 
standard crates, 20x20x28 inches. 

Many carloads of cabbage are shipped in bulk in re- 
frigerator cars. When cabbage is shipped in this man- 
ner the car must l)e prepared by erecting a V-shaped 
space through the entire length of the car to allow a 
free circulation of the cool air from the ice chests to 
pass through the cabbage. If this is not done the cab- 
bage will heat in spite of the ice, and a ruined car of 
cabbage is the result. 

Shipped l)y express, cabbage may bo shipped without 
ice in barrels, hampers or crates. It never pays to ship 
cabbage to any great distance by express, as charges are 
usually too high. 

CANTALOUPE. 

One of the greatest prol)lems Ix'fore Southern grow- 
ers is how to pick, pack and ship TJocivv Ford canta- 
loupes. 

Anybody can pick l)eans, cucumbers or other truck. 
How to ])iek cantaloupes is a science that takes experi- 
ence and almost an expert to properly pick cantaloupes" 
at the proper time or day. It might be said, a canta- 
loupe is one day entirely too green, next day just right 



THE FIRST AID 75 

and the next day too ripe to ship. It is therefore of 
the ntmost importance that cantaloupes should be 
picked at the right time, because buyers of late years 
have become very particular. They will know that if 
picked too green it will be of no flavor, therefore worth- 
less to the trade. 

When the melon begins to ripen, pick entirely by 
color and you will soon be able to tell a melon as soon 
as it will ship. If you begin forcing the melons from 
the vines, it bleeds the vines and the other melons come 
off prematurely, and are 'Spunks," or without iiavor. 
This is a great mistake and if a melon be picked two 
days too soon it is never good and others are injured on 
account of it. The best way to pick is in sacks hung un- 
der the shoulder, and the pickers should have enough 
sacks so that when one is filled it can be laid on the sled 
which follows the pickers (leave a roadway every twelve 
rows for the sled), and another sack taken in. The 
sled is then hauled to the packing shed, which should 
liave a long trough made of burlap about three feet from 
the ground, into which the melons can be emptied from 
the sacks so that the melons are never bruised and never 
exposed to the sun after pic-king. In crating, take hold 
of the melon so that th(> Ihuin)) rests on one end, and 
the scLond and third fingers on the other, and by a slight 
])ressure you can readily detect any "soft ends," which 
must be thrown out. Now you look the melon all over 
for any faults that may appear, and, if it is 0. K.. 
jtlace it solidly in the crate, taking care not to bruise it. 
and at the same time to have the crate well filled, so 
there is not a loose melon in it. Do not put in a green 



76 THE FIRST AID 

melon, and make it a rule to put in only what yon wonld 
be willing to bny. 

The standard crate is 12x12x24 inches and the stand- 
ard pack is 45 melons to the crate. 

There is nothing gained by cutting back the vines, as 
the loss both in quality and quantity of yield more than 
offsets any increased earliness. 

Tn loading cars cantaloupes should always be cooled 
off before they are placed in an iced car, because if they 
are put in hot they will immediately sweat'. This sweat 
will not leave the cantaloupes^ because, after the doors 
of the car are closed, there is no chance for it to leave 
This moisture on the cantaloupe will cause it to mould 
and rot the rind and they will be soft, even if still 
green. Four hundred crates will load a car, making 
20,000 pounds. Favorable markets are St. Louis, Mo.; 
Chicago, 111. ; Cleveland, Ohio ; Pittsburg, Pa. ; Detroit, 
Mish. ; Cincinnati, Ohio, and Buffalo, X. Y., and all 
large cities in carlots. By express, smaller markets are 
more profitable. 

CARROTS. 

After the carrots have attained the size of a finger, 
or a little larger, they should be pulled and tied in 
bunches, each Inmch containing a dozen carrots, and 
shipped in bushel crates, hampers or barrels by express 
If shipped in barrels, carrots must l)e well iced with 
cracked ice in layers. 

The demand for carrots is limited and we do not ad- 
vise to grow or ship them in any large quantities, yet 
as a small side crop they have proven very profitable. 



I 



THE F I RST A I D 77 

CASSAVA. 

After the cassava roots have been dug or plowed out 
they should be cut in convenient pieces, well died and 
placed in barrels to ship to the market. The cassava 
root arc something on the order of sweet potatoes, and 
arc used extensively in puddings, and are converted into 
starch. They are also very nutritious and fattening to 
the stock. 

CAULIFOWEK. 

The cauliiiower is an exteremely profitable vegetable 
if properly grown and placed in an attractive manner 
on the market. 

When the flower has perfected its growth, it should 
be cut and some of the outside leaves removed, leaving 
enough of the leaves to protect the crown from injury. 
It is not a bad idea to wrap each head in paper. Pack 
in hampers^ bushel boxes or barrels. When shipped in 
barrels the cauliflower must be well iced. Also mark 
on the outside of the package the number of heads con- 
tained in the barrel, box or hamper. 

CELERY. 

Take a spade and commenece at the end of row and 
dig out the celery; do not allow it to lay in the sun 
for any length of time. Remove to the packing shed. 
Now trim off roots with sharp knife leaving the butt 
end to a point; remove all irregular distorted outside 
leaves. Some gardeners wash the celery. We do not 
Ijelieve in washing any vegetable before shipping, as it 
causes rot to appear much sooner than if left unwashed. 
If you follow our directions youi- celoi'y will be nice and 
clean without washing. Now tie evenly one dozen 



78 THE F I RST A I D 

plants or stalks into a solid ])iiiic-li, using strong 
twine for the purpose; pack in crates, baskets or bar- 
rels. If shipped by express cracked ice must be used in. 
the l)arrel. By freight celery must be shipped in well 
iced refrigerator cars. 

Celery sell from 40 cents to $1.50 per dozen bimches 
in about all markets and it is a highly profital)le crop 
wliich yields often several hundred dollars per acre 
By following the above plain directions anyone, even 
the beginner, can grow successfully celery for profit 

COLLARDS. 

It can not be said that coUards are a very profitable 
vegetable to grow and ship, and yet there is a limited 
demand for greens during the winter season and col- 
lards are preferred by some to other greens. 

When the leaves are grown and still tender, cut the 
collard and tie in bunches, ship in bushel crates, ham- 
pers or barrels. When shipped in barrels by express, 
cracked ice must be distributed throughout the bar- 
rel or else the collard will heat, turn yellow, and be- 
come unsaleable. 

CORN (sweet). 
Harvesting. 
In gathering sweet corn one should be very careful 
noit to gather in too green nor too ripe; either stage 
makes the corn undesirable. The best corn is gathered 
when it is nearly full grown and still slightly milky; 
com of that description is always saleable. 
Shipping. 
Corn shipped by express should be in open bushel 
crates or hampers. If shipped in barrels the corn must 



THE F I RST A I D 79 

he well iced with cracked ice all the way through, as 
there is great danger of heating in transit. In carlots 
sweet corn can he shipped only in refrigerator cars 
well iced and re-iced in transit. 

CUCUMBERS. 

In gathering this important crop gi'eat care should 
he exercised in not ste})ping on the vines. The fruit 
should he pinched off with the thumh and forefinger 
and never pulled off, as the pulling disturbs the vines. 
The best size to })ick and pack and ship is from 5 to 8 
inches in length. The cucumbers must be still green 
and quite developed, the least sign of yellow or ap- 
proaching ripeness makes the cucumber unfit to ship, 
as it will turn yellow fast and become unsaleable. 

In the early part of the season it is advisable to 
ship in one-third bushel boxes, hampers or crates, later 
on when the cucumbers become more plentiful one 
bushel boxes should ,be used, especially if they are in- 
tended for carload shipments. 

Xo culls or round cucumbers should ever be placed 
in any package. 

Carlots of cucumbers may be shipped in ventilated 
car, l)ut the safest i)lan is to ship in iced refrigerator 
cai-s, and they must be re-iced in transit. Four hun- 
dred bushels cucumbers make a carload of 20,000 lbs. 

EGG PLANTS. 

Many shippers of egg plants wTap each one in separate 
paper, which we also advise as they carry better, and 
do not wilt as much as shipped without wrapping. 

Always state on the outside of your package, the 
number of egg plants the package contains. 



80 THE FIRST AID 

When egg plants attain their growth and become 
a (lark purple color, they are ready for market. Pack 
in l)iisliel crates, ham])ers or barrels, no ice being re- 
(Hiii'cd wluMi slii])pe(l l)y express; in carlots egg plants 
iimst he iced lo ])reserve a fresli appearance. 

GARLIC. 

W'lu'ii tlu' bulbs Jiave attained tlieir growth, which 
is indicated by the tops turning yedbjw and falling down 
garlic is ready to pull. It should be gathered in dry 
weather, braided in strings about 4 feet long and hung 
ui) to dry completely in a barn or shed. In shipping, 
barrels, crates or sacks may be used. 

HORSERADISH. 

When the roots are abuot 1 inch in diameter or 
more, the horseradish is ready for market. Plow or 
dig out the roots with a spade; cut in lengths about 
18 inches long, tie in bunches, and ship to market in 
l)arrels or crates. Wherever horse radish will flourish 
and produce nice roots, it becomes a highly profitable 
crop and should be cultivated by truck gardeners, 

KOHLRABI. 

Kohlrabi should be packed in bushel crates, ham- 
pers or barrels. Barrels of kohlrabi shipped by ex- 
press must be well iced with cracked ice, else it will 
heat and spoil on the way to the market. 

When kohlrabi is the size of a dollar or larger, it 
is ready for the market; it is more tender when of 
small size than if left to grow large. We believe kohl- 
rabi can l)e made a jnost profitable crop for the South- 
ern gardener wben shipped in the fall or winter season, 



THE F I RST A I D 81 

tied in l)iinelics like turnips. We would advise Southern 
o-rowers to give tliis veo-etal)le a fair test. It can be 
g-nnvn alxuit like turni])s or nitahaiias and it makes 
a fine feed for milk eows. 

LETTUCE. 

Lettuce may also be shipped in one-half bushel bas- 
kets, bushel crates or hampers, when it would require 
no icing. The safest plan to ship it is in barrels 
and well iced with cracked ice. 

Lettuce should be cut while still tender and packed 
in barrels with cracked ice. Throughout the winter 
and spring months lettuce is in good demand from 
forty cents to one dollar per dozen heads, according to 
the sii|)ply. With proper cultivation and proper seed 
lettuce can l)e grown in Texas almost any month of 
the year. Lettuce packed in flour barrels goes by ex- 
press at sixty pounds. 

MUSHROOMS. 

Mushrooms are ready to pick about the time the 
gills beneath the umbrella portion are a bright pink 
color. They remain in an edible condition until the 
gills become dark browai or even black, providing they 
are not decayed. If a hole is made in the bed in re- 
moving mushooms it should be filled in again with 
soil. The beds will need an occasional sprinkling with 
tepid water, but should not be made very wet. Too 
much moisture causes the mushroms to damp off or 
rot. 

The yield of mushrooms at the Xew York Cornell 
Station was at the rate of about two pounds per square 
foot of surface. The manure or the beds was composted 



82 THE FIRST AID 

the last of October and the beds spawned November 
23. The first mushrooms were picked January 1, or 
aljout five weeks after spawing the beds. A week later 
regular picking began, and the beds continued in bear- 
ing for about three months. 

The mushrooms are best packed in the quart boxes 
used for strawberries or the 4-basket peach or tomato 
crate. No ice is required to ship mushrooms bv express. 

OKRA. 

As soon as okra begins to bear the young pods should 
be cut every day while they are about two-thirds grown 
and still young and tender. It is advisable to use a 
sharp knife and also gloves on the hands. Handling 
okra with the bare hands is usually followed by a dis- 
agreeal)le prickly sensation on the skin. 

Okra should only be shipped in small packages, like 
the one-third bushel box, one-half bushel liasket or 
hampers, no ice l)cing recpiired by express shipments. 

ONIONS. 

As a rule Southern Bermuda onions are packed and 
shopped in the Cummer folding crate, standard size, 
24 inches long width 6 3/4 inches and depth 16 inches, 
holding about 58 pounds or one bushel. Bermuda 
onions may l)e shipped without ice either l)y express 
or freight, ])roviding the onions are well cured and 
thoroi^glily dry. By following the above directions 
anyone may grow Bermuda onions successfully in the 
South. 

The other onions such as the Prize Taker onion, the 
Australian Brown or the Creole onion may be ship- 
ped in sacks, great care must be exercised in ship- 



THE FI RST A I D 83 

ping onions in sacks, that the onions are thoroughly 
cured and perfectly dry, and kept dry while in sacks, 
if this is not done a few hours moisture and heat will 
ruin the onions. 

PARSLEY. 

When pnrsley is of sufficient size, about eight inches 
high, it is n!ady for market; pull the plant and cut 
off all I'oots short, and tie in small bunches; pack and 
shii) by e.\|)i"css in bushel boxes, ham})ers or l)arrels. In 
l)ari-els parshy must be well iced witli cracked ice in 
layers tlirougliout the barrel, otherwise it is liable to 
heat, turn yellow and become unsaleable. 

PEAS ( ENGLISH ). 

Green i)eas should be ]ucked only after the pods are 
well filled and the hulls still green, they should be 
l)icke(l only when the vines are dry from rain or dew, 
or else they will mold. Take the peas to the packing 
shed, assort them carefully throwing out all the dis- 
colored and faulty ones, or overgrown and tough peas. 
Ship only the best. Peas should be packed in one-half 
bushel baskets, in one-third bushel boxes. In hampers 
or barrels, they would require cracked ice distributed 
among them to keep them from heating, which they are 
very apt to do if not properly iced. 

PEPPERS. 

Peppers that are intended for slicing and used as 
a salad, must be picked every day, before they show 
any sign of color and packed either in one-half bushel 
baskets, one-third bushel boxes or hampers, in barrels 
shipped by express they must be well iced. 



84 



THE FIRST AID 



Peppers used in the dry state for seasoning, must 
be well cured and thoroughly dried, then they may 
be shipped in boxes, barrels, hampers, or sacks, no ice 
being required in this case. 

IRISH POTATOES. 

Hoiv to Dig, Assort and Pack Irish Potatoes. 
Irish potatoes should be dug, or plowed out, and 
never left in the sunshine. Some experienced potato 
growers in the South are so particular about this that 
they will only dig potatoes late in the evening, so as 
to avoid sunshine as much as possible. Irish potatoes 
should be thoroughly cleaned from all dirt, and care- 
fully assorted as to size. Special machines are on the 
market for this purpose, and we advise the use of the 
same by all shippers, as no potatoes less than two inches 
in diameter should ever be packed in any potato car. 





In the early part of the season, small potatoes, even be- 
fore they are ripe of grown, may be shipped by express 
in small lots, as they form a delightful dish, with green 
English peas, and are in good demand in all markets, 
but for regular shipments nothing less than two inches 
should be used. On this page we produce two potatoes 



THE FI RST AI D 85 

(see above), one two inches in diameter, the other one 
and one-half inches in diameter. It is a positive loss 
to the shipper to ship any potatoes in a car that are less 
than two inches in diameter. The little potatoes add 
only to the freight bill and distract from the price of 
the marketal)le potatoes, and in this way act detrimen- 
tally in two ways. A difference of 15 or 20 cents a 
bushel in a car cuts into the net proceeds, and the 
small potatoes are responsible for the cut. On the other 
hand,the little potatoes are worth nearly as much to 
the farmer as the big ones; they are good for home 
use, for stock and for seed for fall planting, as they 
keep much better than the large potatoes, and usually 
a grower can get $1 a bushel for the small potatoes for 
seed, in the fall. 

SWEET POTATOES. 

For immediate eating or market, through the sum- 
mer, sweet potatoes may be dug at any time when the 
size is sufficient to be marketable. For storing and win- 
ter and spring use, the sweet potatoes should be left in 
the ground until thoroughly ripe. This can be deter- 
mined by the following test : Cut a potato in two parts ; 
if the cut part stays dry the potato is ripe for storing; 
if the cut part emits a milky substance in drops, the 
potato is not ripe, and will not keep in storage. Sweet 
potatoes harvested while the ground is dry will keep 
better than when the ground is wet. 

For Northern market sweet potatoes must be neat- 
ly packed in barrels and only the small varieties, such as 
the Jersey or Xansemond, can be shipped, as Northern 
consumers have no use for our large sweet potatoes 



86 THE F I RST A I D 

For lioiiiie market sweet potatoes may he shipped in 
sacks or in bnlk in carlots. 

RADISHES. 

As soon as the radishes attain tlieir growth, they 
slioiild l)e pidled, discarding all of a spongy nature, 
wliich can l)e ascertained l)y a gentle pressure of the 
ringers. The N)ng, small j'oots triniined off, as well as 
excessive ic^p; now lie in hunches of twelve to the 
hunch. Radishes are gejuu'ally (pioted in the markets 
at so iiiuch per dozen; this means a dozen hunches of 
twelve radishes each. The price ranges from 30c to $1 
per dozen bunches, according to the demand and sup- 
ply. When shipping in refrigerator cars, the bunches 
can he packed nicely in layers in either barrels or boxes. 
The l)arrels should be cut open on the sides for venti- 
lation. 

When shipping by express radishes should be ship- 
ped in barrels with cracked ice — put down a layer of 
radishes, then cracked ice, and so on until the barrel 
is full. The amount of ice should be gauged by the 
distance and time to the market, 25 to 75 pounds per 
barrel. 

Radishes shipped in the winter months and spring 
months to the Northern markets are a very profita- 
ble crop for cultivation, but the radishes must arrive 
in a crisp, fresh condition, else they are unsaleable. 
Follow our directions given above very carefully to 
insure profit in radish shipments. 

RHUBARB. 

Rhubarb must be shipped very carefully, gather the 
stalks l)y removing them from the mother plant w^ith 



THE FIRST AID 87 

a sharp knife, remove from the top the excessive leaf 
part, tie in bunches about one dozen stalks to the bunch 
Ship in crates, hampers or baskets by express, if ship- 
ped in barrels rhubarb must be thoroughly iced, else 
it is apt to discolor and spoil on the way. Khubarb 
is a very popular vegetal^le, chiefly used for sauce and 
pies, and always in good demand in early spring at 
good prices. 

SPINACH. 

As soon as spinach attains a fair size and before it 
becomes discolored or tough, it should be cut with a 
sharp knife-like lettuce. Remove all roots and a few 
of the outside leaves. When shipPed in cars spinach 
can be packed in barrels or crates well ventilated; 
when shipped by express spinach should be shipped in 
barrels packed with cracked ice in layers, else it is 
apt to heat and spoil. The amount of ice used should 
be gauged by the distance and time it requires in tran- 
sit, from 20 to 60 pounds of ice for each barrel. 

Spinach can be shipped in bushel crates or hampers 
without ice, providing the distance is not too great^ 
but it is always risky to do so as it has a strong ten- 
dency to heat and turn yellow, when it is unsaleable at 
any price. 

SQUASH. 

Squash should be gathered while still tender, and not 
left on the vines until it becomes hard, the Patti Pan 
squash is the most popular to ship. Place in bushel 
boxes, hampers or barrels for express shipments. It 
is not necessary to ice squash, because as a usual occur- 
ance they carry quite well without ice. 



88 THE FIRST AID 

TOMATOES. 

The most important feature that brmgs tomato cul- 
ture to a successful issue is selection and packing. The 
most favorite package is the four-basket crate. 

Touiatoes sliould be graded as to size and color — Nos. 
1, 2, 3. Xo. 1, tlie ripest, for close shipment; No. 2, 
for further shipments, and No. 3 for the farthest ship- 
ments. It is foil}' to run the three grades together, as 
loss invariably follows this mode. Small, inferior to- 
matoes should not be shipped at all. When 3^011 place 
inferior tomatoes with your good tomatoes, the good 
stock has to pay the freight on the poor and you will 
likely get nothing for your shipments. It pays to grade. 
While this applies to all vegetables, it certainly does to 
tomatoes. 

All of our merchants can use tomatoes in all mar- 
kets, both state and interstate, tomatoes being favor- 
ite vegetables. The express companies must take one- 
third bushel boxes of tomatoes at 15 pounds, and four- 
])asket crates at 20 pounds. Shipping in carlots, toma- 
toes must l)e well iced. 

TURNIPS. 

As soon as the turnips attain the size of a silver 
dollar, tliey are marketable. Pull and cut off part of 
the long roots and tie in bunches of six turnips to the 
l)unch. If larger, say double the size, place three in 
the bimches. Turnips are quoted from 25 to 75 cents 
per dozen bunches. It is not advisable to allow the 
turnips to grow too large, as they become unsaleable. 
Turnips in bunches may be shipped in barrels or crates 
or for long shipments in barrels, cracked ice must be 



THE FIRST AID 89 

put heavy in the middle, on top and bottom, else the 
tops will heat and spoil. 

WATERMELONS. 

Loading. 
Watermelons should be loaded in ventilated cars. 
Clean stock cars are as good as any. Never load in a 
dirty car. Place al)out 10 inches of straw, hay or 
pine straw on the bottom of the car. Xow place 
every melon carefully and snugly in its place, com- 
mencing at the ends of the car and finishing at 
the doors. Allow no one to walk over the mel- 
ons. Load the car about one-half full or less in 
height. When loading carefully examine every melon 
for soft places. Throw out every one that shows any 
defect. It is better to throw the melon away at load- 
ing than to throw it away at the receiving point, after 
paying freight charges on the melon. 

Green Melons. 
We find in our travels among the commission mer- 
chants that there is a very general complaint that many 
ca riots of watermelons from the South early in the 
season are cut too green. The shippers are too hast}^ 
A ripe melon is a luxury, a green melon is a disap- 
pointment, and melons must be ripe to be healthy and 
sala])le, therefore ship only matured melons. Many 
fruits will ripen in transit. A watermelon once cuH, 
irom the vine remains as it is. 

TIow to Tell a Ripe Melon. 
Most experienced melon ])ickers can tell a ripe melon 
from the looks. Others h)()k for the curl near the melon 



90 THE F I RST A I D 

if it is dead. Others squeeze the melon to hear it 
crack; this test injures the melon for shipping. The 
best test we have ever found is to sound the melon with 
a snap of the finger. If the sound is hollow and rings 
the melon is sure to ])e green. If the sound is flat 
and dead tlie melon is ripe. Snap the top of your 
shoe. If the melon scmnds the same it is sure to be 
ripe. 



PART IV. 

How to Prepare, Pack and Ship Butter, 
Eggs, Poultry, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, 
Frogs and Game to the Markets. 



THE FI RST Al D 93 

Butter— How to Prepare, Pack and Ship 

PACKING BUTTER. 

To keep butter for a few days until ready for market, 
immerse the rolls or prints in brine. Pack only one 
kind of the same flavor, color and body in one pack- 
age; mixed lots are generally depreciated in price. 
Use only ]jackages as boxes or tubs that are clean and 
neat to pack the butter in. The top of the butter should 
be covered with a clean, white cloth. One inch of 
salt spread over the top of the cloth is very advisable. 

Eggs 

HOW TO PACK AXD SHIP. 

The profits in shipping eggs to the markets could 
be greatly increased if the shipper would pack with 
more care in selecting the eggs, it is no profit to put 
a few dozen rotten eggs in the case and have them 
thrown out at the receiving ])()int, because the express 
charges are high, even a few ro:ten eggs in a case cuts 
down the profit, every up to date egg shipper and 
farmer included should test his eggs before he ships 
them, and save useless charges on worthless eggs. 
Xever wash eggs before shipping, they must be dry 
cleaned, ship only in standard egg cases holding 30 
dozen. 

In interviewing Mr. W. F. Puis, an extensive egg 
dealer of Houston, Texas, Mr. Puis said it would 
be hard to estimate the thousands of dolhii-s lost to 
our farmers in shipping rotten eggs to the market 
every season, and he said that over 90 per cent of tlie 
sfale eggs are shippedl by the farmers, and not by the 



94 THE FIRST A ID 

merchants or egg dealers^ because these classes of peo- 
ple have recognized the fact that it don't count to pay 
express on rotten eggs, and eggs that are ever so slight- 
ly tainted will not improve on the journey. Every 
farmer during the hot months should gather his eggs 
twice a day, a1)out 10 o'clock in the morning and 5 
o'clock in the evening, and not ship any that have 
been overlooked, as it is sure to be rotten when re- 
ceived in the markets. 

Tlie following directions for packing eggs in water- 
glass are given: T"se only perfectly fresh eggs. Stale 
eggs will not keep by any method of preservation. Clean 
out the vessel in which the eggs are to be packed (pre- 
ferably a stone jar) by scalding with boiling water. 
Prepare the solution, using water that has first been 
l)oil(>d and then cooled to ordinary temperature. 

To each fifteen quarts of water add one quart of 
water-glass. Pack the eggs into the jar and pour the 
liquid over them, covering the eggs completely. Do not 
wash the eggs before packing them, as this may injure 
their keeping qualities by removing a natural protective 
coating on the outside of the shells. 

Keep the eggs packed in this manner in a cool, dark 
place, such as a dry, cool cellar. 

Each day's gathering of eggs mav be |)acked imme- 
diately after gatiiering them in llu- jar and pouring 
over them just enough of the solution lo cover them. 
This is better than to hold the eggs lor several days 
at the risk of their becoming stale in order to have a 
sufficient number to fill the entire vessel at one time. 
In some of the warmer section of the State, during 



THE FIRST AID 95 

the summer months, the temperature often rises high 
enough to start inculcation in eggs. In such localities 
eggs must be packed soon after they are laid or kept in 
some cool place until they are to be packed. 

Water-glass is a somewhat alkaline liquid, but the 
dilution is not injurious to the hands if they are dip- 
ped into it in packing successive gatherings of eggs or 
in removing eggs from the solution. 

It is stated that eggs packed by this method will keep 
for souie time (as long as four weeks) after they have 
been taken out of the preservative solution. 

Poultry 

HOW TO CRATE AND SHIP. 

Both from a humane and economic standpoint. Poul- 
try should never be crowded in the coops, when ship- 
ped to the market, as the loss in weight and by death 
cuts a big figure in the profits. 

Coops should be made strong with a solid bottom, 
leaving no cracks in the floor of the coop. Old and 
young chickens should never be mixed. Hens should 
be placed in a coop by themselves, or else partioned 

off from other fowls. 

Young and tender fries must he exceedingly well 
taken care of, as they are tender and easily maimed 
and In'uised. Mark on the outside of the t(jop how 
manv heads are in the coop, or on the tag. It is use- 
less to ship poultry carelessly as loss must always be' 
the result. Before shipping, poultry should be fed 
and watered, but not too heavily fed. 



96 THE FIRST AID 

Water and feed placed in their coops adds to their 
comfort and is a paying proposition. 

TURKEYS. 

Tt miglit he assumed from the size and make np of 
the turkeys that they are hardy and strong hirds and 
can stand ahnse more than other fowls. But this is 
wrong, turkeys require the greatest care, especially in 
sliipping to the market in a live state. Lack of food 
and water, heat and over crowding the coops, works 
death to turkeys, and it is quite a loss of profit to have 
two or three turkeys arrive dead in the coops. Th-i 
coops should ])e well nuide, high and solid hottoms 
Water and food should he placed in the coops and the 
niiml)er of head in the coops marked on the tag. 

DUCKS, GEESE AND GUINEA FOWLS. 

The same direction for shipping chickens and tur- 
keys applies to ducks, geese and guinea fowls. Xever 
overcrowd the coops, feed them sparingly hefore ship- 
ping and supply water and feed in the coops during 
the journey. It pays to do this as it avoids death and 
loss of weight. 

HOW TO PREPARE, PACK AND SHIP DRESSED POULTRY. 

When dressing poultry for market do not feed for 
at least twenty-four hours l)efore killing, unless the 
hirds are to he drawn, as the food in llie crop will 
ferment and cause an unpleasant odoi'. 

It is a good plan to wrap eacli bird in c-lean paper 
and pack ti^ht in l)oxes for close market. To far-off 
markets, the dressed poultry must he iced to sufficient- 
ly carry the birds fresh to markets. 



THE F I RST A I D 97 

How to Prepare and Ship Frogs to Market 

In many Southern localities there are concentration 
points where local merchants buy the frogs from 
the hunters and either ship them alive or dressed to 
the principal markets. Where there is ice available, 
kill the frogs by simply chopping off the heads, re- 
moving the insides, leave the saddle and legs together 
and pack neatly with cracked ice in strong boxes, state 
the number of dozen in each box, on the box, and ship 
only by express to reliable houses. For information 
about firms always apply to the editor or manager of 
The Southern Shipper's Guide, where all information 
may always be had for the asking. 

For close-by points frogs may be shipped alive in 
boxes or sacks. There is considerable risk of many 
dying in transit, which is quite a loss. 

How to Prepare and Ship Game to Market 

The skin or hide of game should be left on the 
carcass and the inside completely removed. 

The game should hang to dry thoroughly, after wash- 
ing the inside very clean removing all blood and stains. 

The weight of the game should be stated on the tag. 
Small game should be iced for lono- distance markets. 



98 



THE FIRST AID 



Good Cities to which Garlots and Express Shipments 
may be made from the Southwest 



Arkansas 

Arkansas City 
Hot Springs 
Pine Bluff 
Little Rock 

Colorado 
Denver 
Colo. Springs 
Trinidad 
Cripple Creek 
Leadville 

niinois 
Quincy 
Galesburg 
Bloomington 
Decatur 
Rock Island 
Danville 
Chicago 
Joliet 
Peoria 
Springfield 

Indiana 
Logansport 
Munice 
Danville 
Evansville 
Indianapolis 
Vincennes 

Iowa 

Waterloo 
Mason City 
Dubuque 
Iowa City 
Marshalltow 
Des Moines 

Kansas 
Atchison 
Fort Scott 
Abilene 
Dodge City 
Junction City 
Oswego 
Leavensworth 
Emporia 
Hutchinson 



Wichita 

Topeka 

Kansas City 
Minnesota 

Mankato 

Minneapolis 

Rochester 

Fergus Falls 

St. Paul 

Winona 
Missouri 

Jefferson City 

Springfield 

Sedalia 

St. Louis 

Nevada 
Montana 

Miles City 

Helena 

Butte 

Billings 
Nebraska 

Hastings 

Omaha 

Grand Island 

Lincoln 

Nebraska City 
New Mexico 

Albuquerque 

Silver City 

Las Vegas 

Santa Fe 
North Dakota 

Bismark 

Fargo 
Ohio 

Cincinnati 

Columbus 

Toledo 

Sandusky 

Youngstown 

Akron 
Pennsylvania 

Pittsburg 



Harrisburg 

Scranton 

Philadelphia 
South Dakota 

Aberdeen 

Watertown 

Mitchell 
Texas 

Dallas 

Fort Worth 

San Antonio 

Beaumont 

El Paso 

Galveston 

Waco 

Denison 

Houston 

Amarillo 

Wichita Falls 
Wisconsin 

Milwaukee 

Janesville 
Michigan 

Detroit 

Kalamazoo 

Grand Rapids 

Jackson 

Bay City 
New York 

New York City 

Buffalo 

Syracuse 

Albany 

Rochester 
New Jersey 

Newark 

Jersey City 
Nevada 

Virginia City 

Cason City 
Oklahoma 

Perry, 

Lawton 

Guthrie. 



NOV 14 '91° 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



j»uv H 1910 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



DDDE7aD4D7A 





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